A £140,000 a-week Liverpool player is now excited about leaving the Premier League champions after his agent met with a top European club, according to a new report.
Liverpool announce Kerkez and close in on Marc Guehi transfer
Liverpool announced their third major signing of the summer on Thursday, as Milos Kerkez joined the Reds in a deal worth £40 million from AFC Bournemouth. His arrival now takes Liverpool’s spending to £170 million so far this summer, but the Reds and Arne Slot are not finished there.
Liverpool set to send nearly £10m to Chelsea as they close in on centre-back deal
Liverpool are closing in on another signing following Kerkez’s arrival.
1 ByBrett Worthington Jun 26, 2025
According to Daveockop, Liverpool are now close to signing Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace. The England international is in the final year of his contract at Selhurst Park, and the Reds are hoping that can work in their favour as they try to bring Guehi to Anfield in a deal between £40-45 million.
Crystal Palace's MarcGuehi
It’s been reported that the Premier League champions are close to agreeing personal terms with the defender, and that could see this deal progress as they now switch their attentions to their next transfer target.
But these big arrivals mean Liverpool are going to be looking to move some fringe players on, and they have now received a boost in their bid to see one player leave this summer.
£140,000-per-week Liverpool ace excited to leave
According to Corriere dello Sport, relayed by Sport Witness, Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez is now keen on joining Napoli after a meeting between the Serie A club and his agent on Wednesday.
Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez
The report states that Nunez is “fired up” by the idea of playing under Antonio Conte and sees a move to Naples as a chance to rediscover his best form. While his agent and the Italian side have held numerous rounds of talks, there is still a long way to go for the two clubs to agree a transfer fee.
It is claimed that Liverpool are now looking to sell Nunez for around €58.6 million, which is roughly £50 million. This is still considered high for Napoli, and they are trying to reduce this transfer fee through intermediaries.
Apps
143
Goals
40
Assists
26
Nunez, who currently earns £140,000 a week at Anfield, joined the Reds back in August 2022 from Benfica. The forward came with a promising reputation after scoring 26 goals in 28 Liga Portugal games in his final season with Benfica. However, while Nunez has scored goals, he has struggled to replicate the form he showed in Portugal.
Last season, Nunez scored just five times in 30 Premier League games, which was a considerable drop-off from the 11 he scored in the previous campaign. The Uruguay international is still under contract until 2028, but his departure for around £50 million would allow Liverpool to balance the books in what has been a summer of heavy investment.
Arsenal transfer chief Andrea Berta is personally keen on a high-earning centre-forward, who’d now reportedly jump at the chance to join Mikel Arteta’s side.
Arsenal two-man striker target list with Andrea Berta holding talks
According to recent reports, two players currently stand out as Arsenal’s most desired striker targets – Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.
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Going by the on-field and off-field numbers, it is clear to see why this is the case.
Gyokeres, who’s racked up a phenomenal 53 goals in all competitions for Sporting this season, could also depart the Primeira Liga side for a fee of up to £60 million, according to Fabrizio Romano, so he’d be an arguable bargain when factoring in the 26-year-old’s record.
Sporting CP
101
96
28
Coventry City
116
43
17
Brommapojkarna
67
25
9
FC St. Pauli
28
7
4
Swansea City
12
1
0
Brighton
8
1
1
Meanwhile, Sesko’s current release clause stands at £67 million, and the Slovenia international actually bettered his goalscoring tally from last season (18) with 21 goals across all competitions.
While some reports in Portugal earlier this week stated that Arsenal have agreed a £59m fee to sign Gyokeres from Sporting (O Jogo), this claim appears to have jumped the gun, as Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg stated on Friday that Berta is holding serious talks over a move for Sesko.
Arsenal’s pursuit of a top goalscorer remains very much open, as Berta identifies targets who he believes would be best-suited to Arteta.
Interestingly, as per journalist Simon Phillips last week, Arteta would personally prefer Sesko, while Berta is believed to be more of a fan of Gyokeres.
What’s clear, though, is Arsenal’s glaring need for another striker. Arteta has been forced to utilise midfielder Mikel Merino as an emergency striker for most of this calendar year, following injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz.
While the latter has since returned to action, it is imperative that Arsenal don’t wait any longer to sign a 25-plus-goals-per-season forward, as they look to mount a successful Premier League title challenge.
Dušan Vlahović would "immediately" join Arsenal this summer
According to some reports, there are other centre-forwards on Berta’s shopping list, albeit further down the pecking order when compared to Sesko and Gyokeres.
Journalist Daniele Longo, writing a piece for Calciomercato, shares that Juventus striker Dušan Vlahović is one of them.
Juventus' DusanVlahovicduring the warm up
The Serbia international is entering the final 12 months of his £359,000-per-week contract at Juve, and with no sign of a renewal, it would appear that the Old Lady must be more inclined to sell him this summer, rather than lose Vlahovic for nothing in 2026.
Longo states that Vlahovic “would immediately pack his bags” and join Arsenal if given the opportunity, and Berta personally wants the ex-Fiorentina star, even if he’s less of a transfer priority.
The “starting” price of any negotiations for Vlahovic comes at around £42 million, which could be seen by some as good value, considering the “machine” has scored at least 14 total goals per season since 2020/21.
If Berta were to seriously pursue him, Arsenal’s major obstacle would undoubtedly be Vlahovic’s extortionate wages.
Chelsea are pressing ahead with a move to sign one marquee player after they reached an agreement for the signing of Liam Delap, with Enzo Maresca’s side showing no hesitation in attacking the market after ending 2024/2025 on a major high.
Chelsea begin busy summer window with Liam Delap signing
Cole Palmer’s magical second-half attacking display helped spare Maresca’s blushes in the Europa Conference League final on Wednesday evening, with Chelsea coming back from behind to smash Real Betis 4-1 in Poland.
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Manuel Pellegrini’s side threatened to end Chelsea’s season on a sour note, but strikes from Enzo Fernández, Nicolas Jackson, Jadon Sancho and Moises Caicedo in the final 25 minutes of the 90 sealed Maresca’s first piece of major silverware since taking over from Mauricio Pochettino last summer.
Chelsea’s top five finish and subsequent qualification for the Champions League, coupled with their win at the Stadion Miejski, means Maresca’s debut season in the dugout can be deemed a real success.
Despite their damp patch midway through 2024/2025, Chelsea roared to the finish line and displayed serious intent during the latter stages of this campaign, winning six of their final nine league games and losing just one as performances took a positive turn.
Now, attention fully turns to the transfer market, with Chelsea expected to be very busy yet again this summer.
They’ll also have a mini-transfer window – open from June 1 to June 10 – to sign new recruits ahead of their Club World Cup campaign. With £97 million worth of prize money on offer if they win the tournament, Chelsea are expected to take it seriously, and it is believed they ideally want two or three of their new signings through the door before the CWC kicks off next month (Simon Phillips).
One target they’ve been seriously pursuing in the last fortnight, Ipswich Town star Delap, also had a host of other offers on the table from Man United, Newcastle and Everton – so competition was rife for his signature.
However, reports this week began emerging that Chelsea’s Champions League status put them in pole position for the Englishman, who bagged 12 league goals for Ipswich last season (talkSPORT).
Now, Chelsea are expected to seal an imminent deal for Delap, as confirmed by trusted transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano.
However, Delap’s arrival at Stamford Bridge may not be the end of their striker search. Chelsea could in fact sign two centre-forwards this summer, according to journalist Simon Phillips, and this is now being echoed by Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg.
Chelsea "pushing" to sign Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitike
According to Plettenberg, “underrated” Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitike remains a top target for BlueCo, regardless of their agreement with Delap.
The 22-year-old is fresh off the back of an incredible full debut season at Eintracht, having signed permanently from PSG last summer. Ekitike scored 22 goals and racked up 12 assists in 48 appearances across 24/25, leaving little wonder the Bundesliga side will demand a high asking price.
Eintracht want as much as £84 million to sell Ekitike this summer, and if Chelsea are serious about him, they’ll need to splash the cash.
Arne Slot has confirmed that he will rotate his Liverpool team in the Premier League this season (finally) after last weekend’s title triumph.
A host of players have been reduced to bit-part roles under the new management, but the Dutch coach has said that “a few players will come into the team” across the closing weeks of the campaign.
Harvey Elliott, Jarell Quansah and Federico Chiesa will be among those looking for starting berths, but at left-back, it’s more of an uncertain situation.
Liverpool player Harvey Elliott
While Andy Robertson remains Liverpool’s first-choice option to partner Virgil van Dijk on the left side of the backline, his influence has waned this season, mistakes creeping in and attacking contributions heading out.
Several Reds stars are going to be playing for their futures over the final four fixtures, and Kostas Tsimikas is sure to be one of them, having only started seven top-flight games all term. However, four of those have come across seven recent outings.
Liverpool are in the market for a new left-back this summer, and one of the experienced duo is sure to be sold to make room for a fresh face. Milos Kerkez is at the top of the list of contenders.
Liverpool's interest in Milos Kerkez
According to The Times, Liverpool have placed Kerkez right at the top of their shortlist as FSG warm to the idea of signing a new left-back. However, Bournemouth want £45m for the 21-year-old and this is steep.
Described as a “machine” by Sky Sports’ Izzy Christensen, the Cherries defender has all the attributes to become one of Europe’s elite players, and so it’s hardly surprising that his outfit are ready to drive a hard bargain.
Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes was the man who brought Kerkez over to England, signing the Hungarian talent from AZ Alkmaar for £15.5m in July 2023 while he was the transfer operator at the Vitality Stadium.
This season, Kerkez has been a revelation in Andoni Iraola’s system, frightening in attack and secure in defence. His completeness and athleticism have seen him emerge as one of the best young full-backs in Europe.
At £45m, Liverpool will be sure to consider their options, especially with Manchester City and Real Madrid also keen. Hughes has already lined up a potential alternative, and he’s an exciting one at that.
Liverpool chasing new left-back
Kerkez seems to be the top target for the Anfield side, but Liverpool aren’t limited in their scope. Indeed, journalist Bence Bocsak has recently reported that the Premier League champions have been extensively scouting an alternative option.
The man in question is Maxim De Cuyper, with the Club Brugge star impressing Liverpool recruiters with his performances in the Champions League this year. Arsenal are also interested.
De Cuyper, 24, is an active defender with a gas tank that refuses to be depleted. With Robertson hoping to stick around for a few more years, this could be the perfect profile to challenge the Scotland captain for a starting berth, especially since he’s got a rumoured price tag of €25m (£21m).
Why Liverpool should De Cuyper
Firstly, these reports suggest that De Cuyper could be available for less than half the price of Kerkez, and when digging into their respective skill sets, it does look as if the Belgium international has the quality to make just as much of a positive impact in Slot’s team – if not more.
Maxim de Cuyper for Club Brugge.
A fiercely creative defender, De Cuyper ranks among the top 19% of full-backs across divisions similar to the Belgian Pro League for assists, the top 1% for passes attempted and shot-creating actions and the top 4% for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.
FBref have also recorded that De Cuyper’s Champions League performances this season put him alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold from a statistical standpoint, only reinforcing the argument that he would be a perfect fit in Slot’s squad.
Liverpool'sTrentAlexander-Arnoldapplauds fans after the match
When assessing De Cuyper against Kerkez, there’s a case to be made that his playmaking and roundedness make him a better fit than Kerkez, who is a fast-rising defender but a mite expensive at £45m.
The Club Brugge man has hit 11 goal contributions across all competitions this year, notably scoring against Aston Villa in the Champions League. Arsenal want him too, remember, so he’s doing something right.
Of course, the Premier League is objectively of a higher technical calibre than the Belgian Pro League, but the defender’s success in Europe’s elite competition emphasises his chances of hitting the ground running under Slot’s wing in England.
Matches (starts)
34 (31)
34 (34)
Goals
3
2
Assists
5
5
Pass completion
83%
80%
Big chances created
22
7
Key passes*
2.5
1.0
Dribbles (%)*
0.5 (51%)
0.6 (57%)
Ball recoveries*
4.0
4.5
Tackles + interceptions*
2.3
2.6
Clearances*
2.0
2.8
Duels (%)*
3.6 (53%)
4.1 (53%)
It’s interesting that the Belgian should produce such scintillating playmaking numbers – furthering the argument that he’s Trent-like – with his underlying metrics across other areas also suggesting that he could be a more complete and effective left-back upgrade than Kerkez.
Harking back to Robertson, the 31-year-old has failed to register a single goal contribution in the Premier League this season, so it’s no wonder Slot and Hughes are determined to improve that area of the pitch. De Cuyper has the traits that suggest he is the perfect successor.
This isn’t to say that Kerkez is ineffective from a playmaking perspective; far from it, the Hungarian has showcased an exciting desire to advance attacking play on England’s south coast this term.
But De Cuyper has that special something that could charge Liverpool’s left lane to another level entirely. Is it any wonder that talent scout Jacek Kulig has described him as “one of the best left-backs currently playing outside the (Europe’s) top five leagues.”
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Liverpool need to find a way to stay ahead in creative metrics next season, especially if Alexander-Arnold leaves for pastures new in sunny Spain. Bringing in De Cuyper would be the perfect way to enforce this; he might even prove a better signing than Kerkez, and for a portion of the price.
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Arsenal’s sensational showing against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu last night secured their place in the semi-finals of the Champions League, setting up a clash with PSG.
Mikel Arteta’s men produced a perfect showing in Spain, restricting the hosts to minimal chances and shutting down any chances of another famous comeback.
Two second-half goals from Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli wrapped up a 5-1 aggregate triumph, dumping the current holders out of the competition.
Such a result has moved the Gunners within touching distance of a first Champions League final since 2006, with Arteta having the chance to write himself into the club’s history forever.
If they are to go all the way and lift the trophy, the side will have to replicate such a display in the following rounds, with numerous players catching the eye during the victory in Madrid.
Arsenal’s star performers against Real Madrid
After his huge rise to stardom in recent months, it’s easy to forget that left-back Myles Lewis-Skelly is just 18 years of age, with his showing last night way beyond his tender years.
He managed to win 80% of the ground duels he entered, making five clearances and two interceptions, playing a key role in preventing the hosts from getting back into the tie.
Madrid vs Arsenal
However, another academy graduate in the form of Saka also managed to produce an incredible display, with his latest goal taking him to four Champions League goals this campaign.
The 23-year-old registered a 100% shot accuracy, getting all three of his efforts on target, but also starring defensively, winning 100% of the tackles he entered against the Spanish giants.
The aforementioned pair certainly played a vital role in the quarter-final victory, but one other star has managed to repeat the feat of a fan favourite, given his showing in Madrid last night.
The player who has become Arteta’s new Henry
Back in the last campaign in which Arsenal reached the Champions League final, they also defeated Madrid en route, with forward Thierry Henry tearing the opposition apart.
His stupendous solo effort at the Bernabeu was the difference between the two sides over the two legs, with his moment of magic making the Gunners the first English side to win at the stadium.
Such a showing catapulted Arsène Wenger’s side to the latter stages of the competition, with his outing that night 19 years ago still living long in the memory of supporters.
However, the current generation has their own version of the Frenchman in the form of midfielder Declan Rice after his own showing against Carlo Ancelotti’s men last night.
The England international built on his two-goal haul in the first leg, securing the Man of the Match award for the second successive outing against the LaLiga outfit, highlighting how impressive he was in the triumph.
The 26-year-old completed 96% of the passes he attempted against the European giants, with three of which going into the final third, allowing the likes of Saka to kill off the tie.
However, despite his impressive showing with the ball, he was also just as effective without, winning 100% of the tackles he entered, offering a real commanding force at the base of Arteta’s midfield.
Minutes played
89
Passes completed
25/26 (96%)
Passes into final third
3
Tackles won
2/2 (100%)
Interceptions made
4
Clearances made
3
Blocks made
2
He also made four interceptions, three clearances and two blocks – leading to journalist Paul Hayward labelling him “superb” in what was one of his best performances for the club.
As a result of his display, Rice was handed a 10/10 match rating by The Express’ Fraser Watson, further indicating how sensational his showing was against the defending champions.
Whilst he operates in a completely different role to Henry, his outing at the Bernabeu was similar to that in stature of the forward, helping the side advance to the next stage of the Champions League.
If the Gunners are to finally get their hands on the trophy in the coming months, there’s no denying Rice will have a crucial part to play, with his big-money fee a bargain should he lead the side to European glory.
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Chelsea have seen a huge improvement defensively in recent weeks, keeping five clean sheets in their last seven games, only conceding two goals and 16 shots on target across those seven games.
However, the attacking prowess does seem to have tailed off, with the Blues only scoring nine in their last seven games, with four of those goals coming against bottom of the Premier League, Southampton.
Enzo Maresca will be keen to add some extra firepower to his forward line this summer, with a new striker high on the wish list, alongside a new winger who suits the Italian’s system.
Chelsea battling for £64m "cheat code"
The Blues have been linked with a number of forwards over recent months, from Newcastle superstar Alexander Isak to Ipswich forward Liam Delap.
However, they’re not just casting their net across the Premier League but across European football, too.
Indeed, according to reports from TBR Football, Chelsea are interested in signing AC Milan’s £150m-rated winger, Rafael Leao. The player’s camp are currently assessing the player’s options ahead of the summer.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
That being said, the Blues could face competition from London rivals Arsenal, who are also now emerging as an option for the Portuguese winger.
Both Chelsea and Arsenal are keen to add a right-footed left-winger who offers a direct goal threat, speed in transition and creative qualities to unlock a game through their individual brilliance.
Leao has made 43 appearances for the Italian outfit this season, scoring ten goals, providing nine assists and totaling 2,997 minutes.
Chelsea are also reportedly in the race to sign Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens, so just how do the pair compare?
How Leao compares to Gittens this season
Dortmund’s Gittens is another target emerging for Maresca’s side and it’s easy to see why.
The 20-year-old sensation – who is seen as the future of English football – has made 42 appearances for the German outfit this season, netting 12 goals and providing four assists.
He notably shone in the Champions League, scoring against Real Madrid, and would be a superb signing. Still, he’s not quite as good as Leao.
Both players fit the bill of a Maresca winger, looking to get into plenty of 1v1 isolations with the opposition fullback, capable of going both inside and outside and having the directness to drive towards the box themselves.
One factor that could be slightly more worrying surrounding Leao compared to Gittens is work rate, with Maresca often asking his wide players to work hard defensively.
Goals
0.28
0.43
Assists
0.26
0.11
xG
0.28
0.20
xAG
0.27
0.13
Progressive Carries
4.86
5.74
Progressive Passes
3.67
2.08
Shots Total
2.30
2.59
Key Passes
2.09
1.09
Shot-Creating Actions
4.37
3.77
Successful Take-Ons
2.99
3.81
Whilst Gittens has a slightly higher shot volume, manages more progressive carries and successful take-ons, Leao offers more through creative passing, with more key passes, more shot-creating actions and higher assist numbers.
Described as one of football’s “cheat codes” by analyst Raj Chohan, Milan’s Portuguese star has blistering pace, the persistence to be direct and attack the opposition full-backs. He always forces them into uncomfortable scenarios and has the ability to create something out of nothing in a split second.
AC Milan's RafaelLeao
Both players would be excellent signings for Chelsea, but with the Blues already having such a young and inexperienced side, an addition like Leao could provide more of an instant boost, with a big-name signing to raise morale and ready to play a significant part in a title challenge.
West Ham United are now in pole position to sign a “phenomenal” midfielder, having moved ahead of rivals Tottenham Hotspur and a whole host of other Premier League clubs in the race for his signature, according to a report.
Hammers ramping up midfielder pursuit
As we approach the business end of the campaign, West Ham have little to play for, with Premier League safety more or less confirmed, which means they may have one eye on potential additions for the summer transfer window.
A new midfielder is of particular interest to the Hammers, who are now ramping up their pursuit of new options in the middle of the park, and they are ready to make a move for Lille’s Angel Gomes, with the Englishman set to be available on a free transfer.
Graham Potter is believed to be a big fan of the 24-year-old, but he is not the only English midfielder on the shortlist, with widespread recent reports linking the Irons with a move for Sunderland’s Chris Rigg.
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There has now been a promising new update on West Ham’s pursuit of Rigg, with Football Insider reporting they are now in pole position to sign the Sunderland midfielder, despite interest from rivals Tottenham.
Several clubs retain an interest in the 17-year-old, who is said to be destined to be a Premier League player next season, with the Black Cats likely being forced to cash-in if they fail to secure promotion from the Championship.
Everton and Manchester United are also named as potential suitors for the teenager, but the Hammers are leading the race, despite reports from elsewhere revealing Spurs have made a £38m bid.
West Ham United’s upcoming Premier League fixtures
Date
Wolverhampton Wanderers (a)
April 1st
AFC Bournemouth (h)
April 5th
Liverpool (a)
April 13th
Southampton (h)
April 19th
Brighton & Hove Albion (a)
April 26th
"Phenomenal" Rigg needs to take next step
It will probably be a difficult decision for the Sunderland-born midfielder to leave his hometown club, but if they remain a second tier side next season, it would probably be a wise decision to seek pastures new.
Freelance scout Ben Mattinson has spoken very highly of the starlet, describing him as “phenomenal”, while describing him as a “technically gifted midfielder capable of moments of brilliance”.
Sunderland'sChrisRigg
Earlier in the campaign, Mattinson also stated the youngster is capable of being a “game-changer”, which has been on display at times this season, with the Englishman bagging four goals in the Championship.
Rigg is showing signs he is ready to take the next step in his career by moving to the Premier League, so it is fantastic news that West Ham are well-positioned to win the race for his signature.
Setting their sights on summer reinforcements, Coventry City and Frank Lampard have now reportedly joined the race to sign a Europa League defender alongside a number of Championship rivals.
Coventry looking to win Championship transfer race
Coventry have emerged to become one of the surprise packages of the season under Lampard. When they sacked Mark Robins in favour of hiring the former Premier League midfielder who struggled in charge of Chelsea, Everton and Derby County, the decision unsurprisingly stole the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Four months into his tenure, however, Lampard has proved the doubters wrong.
A recent 2-0 defeat against Derby County may have ended an impressive run, but Coventry still have their sights set on a shock play-off place with just nine games left to play in the Championship.
Away from the action, meanwhile, those behind the seasons at the Sky Blues have reportedly turned their attention towards the transfer window. According to Sky Sports’ Anthony Joseph, Coventry have now joined the race to sign Tyrese Asante from Maccabi Tel Aviv this summer following the defender’s impressive season.
Featuring in both Champions League qualification and the Europa League throughout the current campaign, it’s no surprise that Coventry have been joined by the likes of Hul City and Cardiff City in pursuit of Asante.
Tyrese Asante for Tel Aviv against Ajax.
Of course, given their current position in the top six, Coventry’s transfer plan could yet receive a major boost if they earn a place in the play-offs and then secure shock promotion.
"Excellent" Asante could commence Coventry rise
If promotion doesn’t happen this season, then Coventry’s form ever since Lampard’s arrivals suggests that they’ll be ones to watch next season, especially if Asante arrives. A defender capable of playing European football, there’s no doubt that the 22-year-old would be an impressive coup for the Sky Blues as they potentially build towards the Premier League.
Praised for his “excellent” numbers and “strong” passing by football consultant Kai Watson in February, the Dutch defender is only just getting started at 22 years old and a move to Coventry would only accelerate his potential.
Lampard got a taste for the incomings that he could welcome at Coventry in January, signing Matt Grimes and Jamie Patterson. Now, when the summer arrives, he could receive his best addition yet in the form of a defender full of talent in Asante.
Arsenal still remain in contention for the Premier League title this season, despite trailing runaway leaders Liverpool by six points, having played a game more.
The Gunners are also through to the last 16 of the Champions League, and if Mikel Arteta can get his side to embark on a solid run of form over the next few weeks, they could still have a chance of winning a major trophy.
Whatever happens between now and the end of the campaign, one thing remains abundantly clear: Arteta must have a clearout of his first-team squad this summer.
Several players are out of contract, while there have been numerous first-team stars who have failed to perform throughout 2024/25, which could indicate plenty of transfer activity during the summer transfer window.
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We have taken a look at those players Arteta could decide to sell this summer to freshen up his squad. From a £25m signing to someone who scored 17 goals last term, this list features a couple of surprises indeed.
1 Gabriel Jesus
When Gabriel Jesus moved from Manchester City to Arsenal in the summer of 2022 for a fee of £45m, it was seen as an important move, adding quality to Arteta’s attacking department.
Despite scoring 11 goals during his maiden season, he suffered a serious injury at the 2022 World Cup, which kept him out for several months. Last term, the Brazilian managed just eight goals and notched seven efforts throughout 2024/25.
Of course, missing 35 games with injury hasn’t helped. Jesus’ cruciate ligament tear means he won’t be back in action until next season.
If he can get himself fit before then, it might be in the club’s best interests to put the forward up for sale.
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ByRoss Kilvington Jan 17, 2025 2 Jorginho
Jorginho’s contract expires in a couple of months, and it remains to be seen whether Arteta will offer him an extension.
The midfielder arrived in north London two years ago, giving Arteta some strength in depth, but so far this term, the 33-year-old has started just 12 matches in all competitions for the Gunners.
Earning £110k per week, releasing him this summer could allow Arteta to free up a major chunk of the wage budget which could go towards signing an upgrade.
It would be a big call given his experience and his status as a dependable member of the squad, but the Spaniard may have to be brutal as he searches for that elusive league-winning formula.
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ByBarney Lane Feb 6, 2025 3 Jakub Kiwior
Jakub Kiwior looked like a wonderful bargain at £20m, especially given how much potential the Polish defender possessed.
Since joining the club, he has made 54 appearances in two years, but hasn’t quite lived up to his promising talent. In the Premier League this season, the 24-year-old has won just 43% of his ground duels, while keeping one clean sheet across his eight domestic games.
If the right offer was on the table this summer, Arteta could well cash in on the centre-back.
4 Thomas Partey
Like Jorginho, Thomas Partey’s contract also expires in a few months, meaning he could leave Arsenal for nothing in the summer.
The Ghanaian joined the Gunners in 2020, costing the club £45m, and it appeared to be a solid signing by Arteta, who was looking to get his side challenging for the Premier League title.
The 31-year-old made 115 appearances across his first four seasons in north London, but he turns 32 in June, which suggests Arteta might be happy for him to walk away, aiming to bring in a younger replacement for the midfielder.
Considering he earns £200k per week, ranking him as the fifth-highest earner at Arsenal, it certainly isn’t a bad shout.
5 Kieran Tierney
Kieran Tierney moved from Celtic to Arsenal in a deal worth £25m in the summer of 2019, and the Gunners looked like the perfect move for the left-back.
Injury issues have hampered his spell in the Premier League, but the Scot has still made over 100 appearances for the club. The last couple of years have been tough, especially with Tierney falling out of favour under Arteta.
He joined Real Sociedad on loan last season before returning to England, but has played just five times for the Gunners throughout 2024/25.
His contract expires this summer, and it certainly appears as though he won’t be an Arsenal player once the 2025/26 campaign begins.
6 Takehiro Tomiyasu
Japanese defender Takehiro Tomiyasu has been with the Gunners since the summer of 2021, costing £19.8m.
The 26-year-old made 84 appearances during his first three years. Not a regular starter, the former Bologna defender would fill in whenever necessary and was often a reliable performer under Arteta.
A knee injury has restricted him to a solitary appearance for the Gunners this term, and this could well be his final campaign in north London, mainly down to his lack of reliability on the fitness front.
7 Leandro Trossard
Leandro Trossard made the move from Brighton & Hove Albion to north London in January 2023, as Arteta looked for something extra in the final third.
The £27m fee may have been a tad excessive, but during his first few months at the club, the Belgian registered 11 goal contributions, before going on to score 17 goals last season, with 23 to his name in total.
However, in 34 matches this term, the 30-year-old has managed just five goals. There is no doubting he is effective, but will Arteta be looking to sign an upgrade on the former Brighton star?
If so, Trossard could well be on his way out of the Emirates once the season finishes.
Oleksandr Zincehnko was the other arrival from Manchester City in the summer of 2022, linking up with his old teammate Jesus, and the pair looked like they could spearhead a potential title challenge.
The Ukrainian has made only 13 appearances during the current campaign under Arteta, and it looks increasingly likely that he will depart the club sooner rather than later.
Indeed, the left-back looked like departing the club during the January transfer window, with Borussia Dortmund showing plenty of interest in the former City star.
He is still at the Emirates for now, but with the manager potentially looking to overhaul his squad, there is every chance that the 28-year-old will be among those on the chopping block.
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Rangers are expected to be extremely busy during this summer’s transfer market.
New Ibrox manager Russell Martin has a big job on his hands, needing to rebuild an underperforming and, in parts, dysfunctional Rangers squad, so plenty of ins and outs are forecast.
Southampton manager Russell Martin.
On Wednesday, the Gers will learn the identity of their first opponents of the Martin era, preparing to for their Champions League second qualifying round, coming up as soon as 22/23 July.
Before then, could the Gers secure the services of a “magnificent” new goalkeeper?
Rangers' goalkeeping dilemma
After joining the club two years ago, Jack Butland was Rangers’ undisputed number one, starting 102 of his first 111 matches at the club, described by then-manager Philippe Clement as a “top goalkeeper”, even touted with a potential England recall.
Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland
However, Butland made a string of high-profile errors throughout the season, most notably at Old Trafford against Manchester United in January, indicating that the Gers can no longer rely on their shot-stopper.
Thus, following the appointment of Barry Ferguson as interim manager, Butland was eventually dropped, with Liam Kelly given the nod for the Europa League quarter-final against Athletic Club, memorably saving Álex Berenguer’s penalty during the first leg goalless draw at Ibrox.
Nevertheless, the table below underlines that perhaps neither are equipped to be Rangers’ first choice going forward.
Goals against per 90
1.11
3rd
1
2nd
Save %
65.5%
17th
67.9%
11th
Clean sheet %
35.7%
5th
40%
4th
Butland and Kelly’s respective lowly save percentages in the Scottish Premiership this season are the most alarming statistics included in the table above, underlining that Martin should be in the market for a new goalkeeper, so could they land a statement new number one?
Rangers targeting a new goalkeeper
As previously reported by Sports Boom earlier this month, Rangers ‘have entered the race’ to sign Aaron Ramsdale this summer, with Martin hoping to be reunited with the goalkeeper he managed at Southampton just last season.
Ramsdale joined the Saints from Arsenal last summer, having fallen below David Raya in Mikel Arteta’s pecking order, for a reported fee of £25m, but is likely to be on the move again, after Southampton’s catastrophic relegation back to the EFL Championship.
A report in the Times claims that West Ham are targeting a move for Ramsdale this summer, valued at around £20m by the Saints, although his £100,000-per-week salary could see him only move on loan, which is where Rangers could enter the conversation.
So, would Ramsdale be a significant upgrade on Butland? Let’s find out.
Appearances
44
32
Clean sheets
14
4
Goals conceded
51
68
Saves
84
120
Save %
65.3%
66.8%
Post-shot xG – goals conceded
-0.4
-2.5
% of crosses stopped
4.2
5.5
Accurate passes
600
646
Average Sofascore rating
6.98
7.13
Worth noting that Ramsdale’s statistics are particularly impressive considering he was playing for a historically terrible Southampton side, hence why only Mark Flekken made more saves in this season’s Premier League than he did.
Importantly, his save % is better and he also stops a higher % of crosses, showing he’s more confident in the air.
Journalist Charles Watts labelled Ramsdale’s performances for Arsenal as “magnificent”, with Arteta describing him as “exceptional”, following a man of the match performance at Anfield two seasons ago, words that simply highlight his pedigree.
Thus, it is clear that the England international would be a massive coup for Rangers, if they can bring this deal to life.
£6m star returns to Ibrox: AI predicts who Rangers will sign this summer