All posts by z3u9t.icu

Many people thought that Liverpool’s transition from life under Jurgen Klopp to their new era under Arne Slot would be a tough obstacle to navigate. However, that was not the case, given that the Reds stormed the Premier League in the Dutchman’s first season at the helm at Anfield.

In the end, it was a landslide victory for the Merseysiders, who finished on 84 points, ten points clear of second-place Arsenal. They also scored more goals than any other side, finding the back of the net 86 times throughout the course of the season.

In what was a memorable first campaign for Slot, there were some real standout players for the Reds.

Liverpool’s standout players in 24/25

Of course, the key to Liverpool winning the title last season was Mohamed Salah. The 33-year-old won the Golden Boot by some distance, scoring 29 times and assisting a further 18 in the 38 top-flight games.

In terms of attacking output, the now-departed Luis Diaz scored 13 times and assisted seven in the top flight, and Cody Gakpo bagged ten goals and set up five more.

Behind Salah, they were Liverpool’s most dangerous attackers.

Naturally, the Reds were strong at the back last season, with Alisson and Virgil van Dijk two key components to Slot’s title-winning success. However, Ibrahima Konate was “the best defender in the Premier League” according to former Chelsea and Arsenal centre-back William Gallas.

The 25-year-old, who signed for Liverpool from RB Leipzig in 2021, played 31 games in the top flight, forming a near-unbreachable partnership with Van Dijk. Konate even chipped in with one goal and two assists.

It was not just the likes of Salah, Gakpo and Konate who were the star men for Liverpool last season. One man in midfield really stood out, putting in consistently excellent performances week in, week out.

How Gravenberch's value has soared under Slot

Despite a transfer window in 2025 where Liverpool spent hundreds of millions of pounds, much of the squad that won the title last season was built by Klopp. Slot certainly landed on a formula that was able to secure the league with a squad that was, ultimately, not his.

One of those key players last term was Ajax academy graduate Ryan Gravenberch. The 23-year-old formed a hard-working midfield alongside the likes of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, sitting as a lone number six in front of the back four.

His importance to Slot’s side is clear to see when you look at the number of games he played last term. Gravenberch featured in 49 matches across competitions, with 37 of those games coming in the Premier League.

Described as a “special” midfielder by football scout Antonio Mango, the former Ajax star excels at carrying the ball through the lines. That is a self-professed skill of his, with the Dutchman explaining that when he can “break through the lines and open up in the play, I really enjoy that”, as the clip below shows.

His underlying numbers from last term show just how well-rounded the 23-year-old is as a number six.

For example, he averaged 14.4 forward passes and won 5.5 duels on average per 90 minutes, showing two different sides of him as a midfielder.

Forward passes

14.4

505

Take-ons completed

1.1

37

Duels won

5.3

184

Interceptions

1.8

60

Ball recoveries

5.5

193

With all this in mind, it might not be a surprise to learn that Gravenberch’s value has shot up since Slot guided Liverpool to the title, as per Transfermarkt. When Klopp departed Anfield at the end of 2024, he was worth just £30m, having started just 21 games under the German the year prior.

Now, his value has risen by 116% under his countryman. The ex-Bayern Munich midfielder is valued at £65m, over double his value just over a year ago. That is a real testament to how well he has performed.

Slot winning the league with a Klopp-built squad at the first time of asking was certainly impressive, and Gravenberch is certainly a success story. His huge increase in value certainly shows that.

Signed for £5m, sold for 450% more: Liverpool hit gold with the original Wirtz

Liverpool’s original version of Wirtz was sold for a healthy profit.

ByWill Miller Sep 9, 2025

After welcoming Sean Longstaff earlier this week, Leeds United are now reportedly set to sign another midfield star in a deal worth over £17m this summer.

Longstaff: Leeds is the "perfect" move

Becoming the Whites’ fifth signing of the summer, Longstaff will instantly add some much-needed Premier League know-how to Daniel Farke’s side ahead of next season. The former Newcastle midfielder won’t steal the same headlines as the likes of Jaka Bijol, but he could prove to be equally important at Elland Road.

Speaking for the first time since putting pen to paper, Longstaff told the official Leeds website: “I spoke to [Karl] Darlow straight away, but I have got to meet everyone. It seems like a really good group. I have heard great things.

“I think there is something to be said for a team that wants you and a club that really wants you. I think from the first time I spoke to Leeds, I sort of got a feeling that they really wanted me.

“It just fills you full of confidence and it just makes you want to repay those people. It is a massive, massive football club similar to Newcastle in a lot of ways.

49ers have now "rejected" formal bid for "excellent" 21 y/o Leeds talent

The Whites are holding out for a higher number…

1 ByHenry Jackson Jul 19, 2025

“It was going to take a lot for us to leave Newcastle to be honest and I wasn’t just going to leave to go anywhere so it had to be the right place for me and my family and I think this is a perfect place. I got to watch pretty much all the games and see a team that was really exciting to watch, athletic, really good on the ball.

As pleased as they’ll be to have signed Longstaff, however, the 49ers aren’t stopping there. Reports are now indicating that they’ve instantly agreed another deal to sign their sixth fresh face of the summer and another midfield star.

Leeds agree deal to sign Anton Stach

As reported by Fabrizio Romano, Leeds are now set to sign Anton Stach after agreeing a deal worth more than €20m (£17m) with Bundesliga club Hoffenheim. The 6’4 midfielder is set to put pen to paper on a four-year contract, as those at Elland Road prepare to welcome another signing.

With plenty of Bundesliga experience to his name and even appearances in the Europa League last season, Stach represents another solid signing by all involved at Leeds.

It’s no surprise that the towering midfielder has earned impressive praise during his time in Germany, either. Former coach Florian Kohfeldt recalled Stach’s days as a youth player at Werder Bremen, claiming that he was already a talented player at a young age: “He didn’t have such an easy time here at Werder when he was at boarding school.

“He was a bit behind his peers physically when he was young, but in my opinion he already had a very strategic disposition in his game and was incredibly goal-oriented and ambitious.”

The Athletic’s Beren Cross has also heaped praise on Stach in reaction to the deal, sharing on X on Saturday: “Another giant, another 26-year-old, Leeds are finalising a transfer (in excess of £17.3m) for Anton Stach. A sixth new face and a real unit that played as a defensive midfielder and centre-back with Hoffenheim.”

Barcelona are reportedly planning a fresh approach for “wonderful” Liverpool star Luis Diaz, but the press in Spain believe he has agreed terms elsewhere.

Players who could leave Liverpool this summer

A busy summer transfer at Anfield has seen Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez join the Reds, but the likes of Caoimhin Kelleher, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jarell Quansah have already departed, and a host of other names have been linked with exits before next season gets underway.

Luis Diaz has continually been mentioned as an option for Barcelona, with his father even admitting that it would be a “dream” move for his son.

Elsewhere, Harvey Elliott’s future looks likely to lie away from Liverpool, and there are also rumours suggesting Andy Robertson and Darwin Nunez could move on.

Luis Diaz has agreed terms with Bayern Munich

According to a new update from Fabrizio Romano on X, Barcelona are now planning to make a “new approach” for Liverpool ace Diaz in the near future, with Spanish journalist Fernando Polo confirming the player is keen on the move.

However, Polo has since added a new twist, revealing sources in Germany believe Diaz has verbally agreed personal terms with Bayern Munich. The Germans lost Jamal Musiala to a serious injury over the weekend, and Polo reports if they bid for Diaz it is with the Colombian’s green light.

Liverpool’s stance on Diaz seemingly remains clear, with the Premier League champions not entertaining any offers.

While the Colombian may not be an absolutely world-class footballer, he is still an elite attacking player, scoring 17 goals for the Reds last season and flourishing as both a winger and a centre forward, being lauded by former midfielder Danny Murphy.

“I’ve picked out Diaz because I think he’s gone under the radar a little bit with all the plaudits a lot of the players are getting. He’s got a wonderful work ethic and attitude to the game wherever he’s asked to play.”

Liverpool in lead to sign £35m star who loves Arne Slot, he's keen on move

The Reds could land themselves a talent this summer.

BySean Markus Clifford Jul 6, 2025

Admittedly, a monstrous bid for the £55,000-a-week Diaz could make Liverpool think again, considering he is 28 now, but only an extortionate amount of money should lead to them accepting an offer this summer.

Leeds United have had a busy summer transfer window already, making four signings, including three defenders and a striker on a free transfer, namely Lukas Nmecha.

Now, it seems like the Whites have moved onto a midfield target, with Sean Longstaff of Newcastle United now in their sights.

A recent report from Sky Sports suggests that Daniel Farke’s side have had a bid worth around £12m for Longstaff rejected by his boyhood club. Leeds may well go back in for the midfielder, but it’s also revealed they are now considering their options ahead of bolstering their central options.

The Yorkshire outfit might not be done there, and are said to be eying up another new addition, who could prove to be an even more important signing than Longstaff.

Leeds' next signing after Longstaff

So, it certainly seems like Leeds are doing all they can to bring in their fifth new signing of the summer to Elland Road.

Transfer Focus

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

Once they’ve bolstered the midfield, they must move on to an even more important area; the goalkeeping department.

According to a recent report from Turkish news outlet As Marca, the Whites are lining up a move for Fenerbahce and Croatian international goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic. The 30-year-old is reportedly the subject of a £6m bid from Leeds.

However, that does not come close to the price tag the Turkish side are holding out for. Instead, Jose Mourinho’s side want in the region of £11m to make a deal happen.

Leeds will have to be quick, with Livakovic also of interest to fellow Premier League sides Sunderland, Aston Villa, and Chelsea.

Why Livakovic would be a good signing

If there is one criticism people had for Leeds last season, which was not easy given they reached a century of Championship points, it was the lack of consistency shown by first-choice goalkeeper Illan Meslier.

Well, perhaps signing a new goalkeeper in the form of Livakovic is the answer to Leeds’ struggles between the posts. The Croatian star had an impressive campaign in 2024/25 for Fenerbahce, playing 32 games across all competitions, conceding just 38 goals and keeping nine clean sheets.

He was also Croatia’s first-choice goalkeeper at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. There, he was the hero in penalty shootouts against Japan and Brazil as his side came third in the tournament. Statman Dave described him as a “big-game” player as a result of his efforts.

As for Meslier, his initial numbers last season might not suggest any goalkeeping frailties. In 39 Championship games, he conceded 27 goals and kept 21 clean sheets, which you’d be happy with at the end of a campaign.

Yet, digging a little deeper tells the full story. He made three errors leading to a goal and prevented -2.73 goals. To put that number into context, of the 50 goalkeepers who played a game in the second tier last term, only six glovemen had poorer records between the sticks.

It was undeniably a calamitous year for Meslier, which included that bizarre mistake against Sunderland. Ex-Leeds man Aidy White told BBC Radio Leeds that “they have got to drop” the Frenchman.

For that reason, Livakovic would be a better addition than Longstaff. The simple fact is that Leeds need to improve in goal, more than they do in the middle of the park where the likes of Ao Tanaka, Ilia Gruev and Ethan Ampadu are consistent figures.

A look at the underlying numbers also suggests that the Croatian number one would be a huge upgrade on Leeds’ current first-choice shot stopper.

As the stats on Sofascore show, Livakovic averages 2.5 saves compared to Meslier’s 1.7 saves per 90 minutes. The numbers also suggest that the Fenerbahce star is better with his feet, and last season averaged 5.6 accurate long balls compared to just 2.5 accurate long balls each game from the Frenchman.

Goals conceded

1.2

0.7

Saves made

2.5

1.7

Save percentage

67.8%

70.7%

Penalty save percentage

40%

25%

Accurate long balls

5.6

2.5

All the evidence suggests that Livakovic would be a far better signing than Longstaff. Whilst the Newcastle man would bring experience into the midfield, having a reliable man between the sticks is exactly what Leeds need this season.

Meslier had some poor moments last term, and bringing in Livakovic could help solve their issues and allow more consistency in goal. He may certainly end up being a better signing than Longstaff.

More exciting than Longstaff: Leeds pursuing deal for "unplayable" £20m ace

Leeds United are reportedly eyeing up a star who would be an even more exciting signing than Sean Longstaff.

1 ByDan Emery Jul 10, 2025

Well, it feels like Liverpool and Newcastle United are primed for a summer of fencing over Alexander Isak. The Magpies striker is on FSG’s wishlist, even if there’s a prevailing sense that Eddie Howe’s side are going to ensure their talisman stays put.

In fact, PIF have priced the centre-forward at £200m and are reportedly prepared to make him the highest-paid player in Newcastle’s history.

It’s unlikely that this one will come to fruition for Arne Slot’s side, but the door isn’t completely closed on a stunning summer capture to complement the thick breadth of talent already being added to the Anfield ranks: Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz brought in from Bayer Leverkusen, Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez just announced too.

Isak was only outscored by that man Mohamed Salah in the Premier League last season, and is one of the most mobile and talented nines in Europe, even remarked to have been “the best striker in the world” last season by analyst Raj Chohan.

Of course, in order to get such a deal over the line, Liverpool would need to make sure they offload Darwin Nunez.

The latest on Darwin Nunez's future

25 years old, Nunez should be heading into his prime – and he might be, but not at Liverpool. It hasn’t worked out for the man who cost FSG some £64m to bring over from Benfica (his full £85m fee will not be reached).

Anticipated to be on the move for several months, things are starting to move, with Serie A champions Napoli locked in talks with Liverpool to bring the player – who has green-lit the potential transfer – over to Naples.

Despite his flaws, Nunez remains popular within the Liverpool fanbase and is endowed with the archetypal physical faculties of the modern high-level striker. But consistency has proved elusive across his three years on Merseyside, and now it’s time for change.

Nunez actually regressed under Slot’s management, scoring just seven times across 43 matches in 2024/25. Others rose to the occasion, stepped up, but, tactically, the Uruguayan was incongruent in the system, unable to process the calculated and measured nature of the coach’s vision.

Liverpool might not sign Isak this summer, but it’s pretty clear that a new striker will be required to combat Nunez’s departure. Someone refined and respected as one of the continent’s sharpest marksmen.

And someone affordable at that.

Liverpool open talks for Nunez upgrade

According to Correio da Manha, Liverpool have entered the race for Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres, with Arsenal and Manchester United the notable competitors.

The 27-year-old has established himself as one of the most prolific strikers in Europe over the past few years and is believed to have a €80m (£68m) price tag, something Liverpool have confirmed after opening talks with the player’s representatives.

Said to be ‘heartbroken’ after Sporting president Frederico Varandas purportedly went back on a gentleman’s agreement to let him leave for a comparatively modest fee at the end of the 2024/25 season, Gyokeres has no intention of playing for the two-in-a-row Liga Portugal champions again.

Arsenal are the clear favourites in the race, but Liverpool are there, and they need a striker.

Why Liverpool should sign Viktor Gyokeres

Gyokeres is at the top of his game and has been profiled favourably by some of English football’s heaviest hitters. He might not have the same depth of talent as Isak, and indeed remains at this point unproven in the Premier League, but he’s a “ball-striking monster”, as per analyst Ben Mattinson and could prove a massive upgrade on Nunez.

When you consider he’s available for a fraction of the cost that FSG would need to pay to bring Newcastle’s goal-getter over to Anfield, snapping him up before rivals steal ahead feels like a bit of a no-brainer.

In fact, Isak’s 27-goal haul across the campaign is dwarfed by that of his compatriot, who fired 54 goals home for his outfit across domestic and European endeavours, playing only 52 matches.

1.

Viktor Gyokeres

33

39

2.

Kylian Mbappe

34

31

3.

Mohamed Salah

38

29

4.

Robert Lewandowski

34

27

5.

Harry Kane

31

26

Think of a forward, the best you can. They didn’t outscore Gyokeres in any of Europe’s top ten divisions last season, with the Swede’s 39-goal haul an illustration of his prowess.

His clinical nature – something that Nunez is decidedly lacking in – has even illustrated a sharper ball-striking quality than Isak, and if that can be translated over to English football, Slot will be a happy man indeed.

A fair criticism would be that he plies his trade in Portugal, and Nunez wrapped up his final campaign in the country with 34 goals across 41 matches in all competitions, prompting Jurgen Klopp to spend prodigally on his signature.

However, Gyokeres is far more accomplished, technically, athletically and physically, having been described as a “very physical striker” and a “powerhouse” by analyst Ben Mattinson.

Moreover, he’s proven his ability to steal the show against the Premier League’s finest.

And if that’s not sold him, just take a look at FBref’s evaluation, Gyokeres’ data gleaned across a period of 12 months to paint a vivid picture of his completeness, not just a goalscorer.

Indeed, he ranked among the top 11% of positional peers across divisions similar to the Liga Portugal for assists, the top 1% for progressive carries and shot-creating actions, and the top 2% for successful take-ons per 90.

Nunez was much younger when he arrived in the Premier League, a raw prospect with the hint of something special. Conversely, Gyokeres is at the heart of his prime years, no doubt robust and confident enough to work well with Salah, Wirtz and the like.

Fans have always clung onto hope that their record forward would come good, but when Slot stated in February that he “can’t accept” his work rate after a string of disappointing performances, it became quite clear that his day was done.

It’s time for change, and Gyokeres would be a fantastic addition given his relatively affordable price tag and the existing depth of creative quality in Slot’s squad.

He'd be Wirtz 2.0: Liverpool stand a "chance" of signing the "next Mbappe"

Liverpool believe they have a good chance to sign a star who would be a Florian Wirtz repeat.

1 ByDan Emery Jun 26, 2025

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has a reputation for doing work on numerous transfer targets before eventually formalising that interest, and the Italian currently has many different avenues he’s exploring right now.

Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, as confirmed by the reliable David Ornstein and others, despite the player’s cryptic comments recently, is closing in on a move to Arsenal with all details of the deal agreed.

Star's agents fume over rejected Arsenal bid amid "constant contact"

The Gunners are in touch all of the time.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 14, 2025

Arsenal regard the 26-year-old’s capture as “done and signed”, with Real Madrid posing no threat after all following their decision to back off in the race for Zubimendi, coming as fantastic news for Mikel Arteta.

Kepa Arrizabalaga is also poised to join Arsenal as David Raya’s understudy, and now that the Spanish duo appear on their way to N5, attention is turning to Berta’s pursuit of a winger and striker.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

Arsenal talks remain ongoing for RB Leipzig starlet Benjamin Sesko, while some reports claim the north Londoners are preparing another offer for Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres, after their opening bid was rejected (Mais Futebol).

Berta has apparently been working to discover the conditions of deals for both Sesko and Gyokeres before deciding which deal would suit Arsenal best (BBC), so it is little surprise we’re seeing leaks of serious Arsenal talks for the strikers.

Arsenal are also chasing a new winger, and £170,000-per-week Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams remains on their agenda.

Arsenal approach Nico Williams with Berta ready to pay release clause

According to Spanish news outlet Sport, despite reports to the contrary, the 22-year-old’s release clause is actually £53 million.

Nevertheless, Sport’s information is that Arsenal are ready to pay the £53 million for Williams, and are making “real moves” by knocking on his door. Berta is also ready to offer the Spain international a marquee salary, but there is an err of caution, as Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich are prepared to do exactly the same.

Intriguingly, Williams’ ideal plan is to remain in Spain and join Barcelona. His agent, Felix Tainta, even held crucial talks with Barca sporting director Deco this week to explore a potential move to the Camp Nou.

However, while the Catalans were keen on Williams last summer, Sport suggests he won’t have much luck this time around, given Barca’s priority attacking signing is actually Liverpool star Luis Diaz.

Arsenal’s willingness to meet both Bilbao’s release clause and pay Williams a large salary could open the door for Arteta’s side to tempt the exciting wide player with a move to the Premier League instead, and former Chelsea boss José Mourinho’s plaudits suggest he could be worth the effort.

“Nico is unique, he is wonderful,” Mourinho said. “During the European Championship, people were talking a lot about Lamine Yamal, who is obviously another wonderful kid, but I personally prefer Nico.”

Is it set to be a busy summer at Celtic?

After missing out on the treble, beaten on penalties by Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup Final, the Hoops are expected to heavily reinforce their squad this summer.

Well, with a crucial Champions League play-off tie circled in red on the calendar, taking place at the end of August, Brendan Rodgers will want his summer business to be done early, so are the Premiership champions about to land a new recruit?

Celtic targeting a new midfielder

Defenders are certainly the order of the day for the Celts this summer with Kieran Tierney’s return to Parkhead one of Scottish football’s worst-kept secrets.

However, the full-back isn’t the only player who could be closing in on a move to Paradise according to reports.

As per Portuguese outlet A Bola, Celtic have ‘opened initial talks’ to sign midfielder Demir Ege Tıknaz.

They outline the fact that the 20-year-old spent this season on loan at Rio Ave from Beşiktaş, and the Portuguese club have an option to make this move permanent for €5m (around £4.2m).

However, given interest from Celtic, as well as Lille, Rio Ave are preparing to make a quick profit on Tıknaz, placing a €10m (around £8m) price-tag on his head.

So, would he be a good signing for the Scottish champions, and which former Celt is he reminiscent of?

Demir Ege Tıknaz: the next Nir Bitton?

Writer Ryan McGinlay believes that Tıknaz’s ‘resemblance in play-style to Nir Bitton is uncanny’ and, should he arrive, if the Turkey international had even half as successful a Celtic career, he’d be doing well.

Bitton signed from FC Ashdod in 2013 and would remain at Celtic for nine years, making 271 appearances and winning 18 major trophies.

Naturally a defensive midfielder, the Israeli international would frequently fill in at centre-back too, with Kieran Devlin of the Athletic praising Bitton’s ‘reading of the game’ and ‘composure in possession’, with Joe Sullivan labelling him ‘versatile and highly reliable’.

So, could Tıknaz be something similar?

Well, analyst Ben Mattinson believes the Turkiye U21 international ‘reads the game well’ allowing him to ‘step up and intercept​​​​​​​’, praising his ‘timing of tackles​​​​​​​’ and ability to ‘steal the ball’, adding that he possesses a ‘decent passing range’ too.

Meantime, in an interview with Sarah Shephard of the Athletic, Tıknaz​​​​​​​ himself says he has a similar playing style to that of Sergio Busquets, stating “I always want to have possession… I’m kind of a playmaker… I can play box-to-box too”.

Well, according to Aryan Suraj Chadha of Goal, the Turkish youngster is one of the most ‘sought-after talents across Europe’, so let’s assess his statistics in the Primeira Liga this season.

Minutes

1,976

107th

Completed passes

826

82nd

Pass completion %

85.1%

45th

Passes into the final third

99

34th

Progressive passes

96

62nd

Tackles

35

15th

Interceptions

47

3rd

Ball recoveries

132

21st

​​​​​​​

Worth stating first and foremost that, according to a study by Bernd Frick, Tommy Kweku Quansah and Markus Lang, the Primeira Liga is one of the ‘least balanced leagues’ in European football, so the fact that Tıknaz was playing for Rio Ave, who finished 11th, makes his statistics all the more impressive.

Demir Ege Tıknaz (Tiknaz)

The Turkish midfielder ranks highly for metrics both in and out of possession, sat third when it comes to interceptions, while also registering noteworthy numbers when it comes to his pass completion percentage as well as passes into the final third.

Thus, all available evidence suggests Tıknaz is a high-quality, high-potential player, one that Celtic should absolutely be looking to snap up.

​​​​​​​

Celtic could strike for "excellent" 85-goal hero who wants Parkhead return

The Bhoys are on the lookout for more firepower.

5 BySean Markus Clifford Jun 7, 2025

Every year, there are thousands of players coming to the end of their current deals – some high-profile, others further down the footballing pyramid.

This opens up the opportunity for these players to move on in the summer, with a number of stars set to be available for free, whether they have been unable to agree on fresh terms or simply come to the end of their time at their current clubs.

Here, we look at some of the best players who could be looking for a new club for 2025/26.

Player

Departed

Joined

Year

Gianluca Vialli

Juventus

Chelsea

1996

Steve McManaman

Liverpool

Real Madrid

1999

Sol Campbell

Tottenham

Arsenal

2001

Michael Ballack

Bayern Munich

Chelsea

2006

Raul

Real Madrid

Schalke

2010

Andrea Pirlo

Milan

Juventus

2011

Robert Lewandowski

Borussia Dortmund

Bayern Munich

2014

Zlatan Ibrahimović

PSG

Manchester United

2016

Sergio Agüero

Man City

Barcelona

2021

Lionel Messi

Barcelona

PSG

2021

1 Dominic Calvert-Lewin Everton

It looks as though Dominic Calvert-Lewin is heading towards the end of his Everton career, with several high-profile clubs expected to make an offer to secure his signature.

AS Monaco were one of those interested in the English striker back in January, but the Toffees stopped short of claiming a fee for Calvert-Lewin, leaving them open to a free sale.

There is speculation that Newcastle United are an interested club, with Calvert-Lewin set to call time on his stay on Merseyside.

2 Jonathan David Lille

Many feel that Lille have made a massive mistake by allowing the contract of star striker Jonathan David to run down, meaning they will likely lose out on a significant transfer fee.

There appears to be no shortage of offers for the forward. Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth claimed in January that two Serie A sides had made offers, while four Premier League teams were reportedly keen on striking a pre-contract agreement with David ahead of next season.

However, it feels like Serie A champions Napoli are close to securing an agreement with the Canadian, despite interest from rivals Juventus. Whoever manages to sign him will be securing one of the most coveted strikers in Europe.

3 Ben Davies Tottenham Hotspur

Fresh from winning the Europa League with Tottenham Hotspur, it appears as though Ben Davies will be leaving N17 in the near future.

The Welshman joined the Lilywhites from Swansea City in 2014, becoming one of the first to join under former manager Mauricio Pochettino.

Leeds United and Burnley were both linked to the full-back recently, so Davies may end up staying in the Premier League.

4 Kevin De Bruyne Manchester City

Kevin De Bruyne was so often at the heart of the success Manchester City achieved since he joined in the summer of 2015.

With 422 appearances for the Etihad side, De Bruyne has been their talisman, never more so than during the 2022/23 season as they won the treble. Indeed, he registered 41 goal contributions for the club that year.

Napoli are the team most strongly linked with the Belgian, with Antonio Conte’s side intent on building on their Scudetto success.

5 Abdoulaye Doucoure Everton

Abdoulaye Doucoure revealed he would be leaving Everton at the expiry of his contract in the summer. The midfielder bowed out after helping the Toffees to a final-day win over Newcastle in the Premier League, and will now be looking for a new club ahead of 2025/26.

A £20m signing from Watford in 2020, Doucoure scored one of the most important goals in the club’s history as they survived relegation at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.

It appears that a move to the Middle East is on the cards as it stands, with multiple Saudi Arabian clubs among the interested parties for the Malian’s services.

6 Angel Gomes Lille

Angel Gomes is another player set to leave Lille in the summer, alongside teammate Jonathan David. The midfielder, who made his England debut in September, joined the French outfit from Manchester United in 2020 on a free transfer and will again be on the move for nothing.

His old club are among the clubs interested in his signature, while Tottenham Hotspur will be hoping the promise of Champions League football will sway things in their favour.

7 Victor Lindelof Manchester United

With first-team opportunities turning into a premium in recent seasons, it is no surprise that Swedish defender Victor Lindelof allowed his deal at Manchester United to run down.

Lindelof struggled with injuries and started just six times in the league in 2024/25, with his role in the side further diminishing amid a number of centre-back arrivals in recent windows.

There are plenty of clubs lining up to sign him, including four Premier League clubs and former side Benfica.

8 Tyrick Mitchell Crystal Palace

Despite starring for the Eagles in the FA Cup final, Tyrick Mitchell is yet to publicly commit his future to Crystal Palace. That said, Mitchell may not be about to see his deal at Selhurst Park expire, with conflicting reports over the status of his contract.

Nevertheless, he continues to be linked away, with Milan among his potential suitors, though whether the Rossoneri would have to pay a fee remains to be seen.

9 Thomas Partey Arsenal

Thomas Partey’s contract at Arsenal is up in the summer, though his time in N5 may not be as close to ending as it may seem.

That’s because Mikel Arteta has previously stated his desire to keep the Ghana international at the club, so a new deal may be in the offing.

Partey has been linked away in previous windows, with interest coming from Italy and Saudi Arabia in the past. This time around, Juventus, Barcelona and former club Atletico Madrid have all been mentioned as potential destinations.

10 Leroy Sane Bayern Munich

It may have come as a surprise to many when Leroy Sané swapped Manchester City for Bayern Munich, especially with the Pep Guardiola era in full swing, but the German has been a crucial player for the Bavarians.

Indeed, he ended the 2024/25 season with 116 goal contributions – 61 goals and 55 assists – in 220 appearances since joining, a rate of one goal involvement every 1.9 matches, marking a spectacular record.

If a club can secure his signature for nothing in the summer, they would be signing a player still at the peak of his powers.

Manchester City are now set to table a huge contract offer, in an attempt to lure a “world-class” transfer target to the Etihad Stadium this summer, according to a report.

Man City pursuing new midfielders despite Rodri return

Man City never really managed to recover from Rodri suffering an ACL injury against Arsenal back in September, with Pep Guardiola enduring a rare trophyless campaign after the FA Cup final defeat, and the manager believes his side would have competed if the Spaniard had been available.

The City boss said: “I don’t have any doubts with Rodri there, and Phil there, and everybody there, the central defenders there, we would have competed; in the Champions League we would have been better.”

Guardiola will no doubt be hoping that Rodri’s return is a major boost for his side, but the manager remains tasked with bringing in at least one new midfielder this summer, given that Kevin De Bruyne’s time at the Etihad Stadium is set to come to an end.

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It will be difficult to find any player capable of providing goals and assists as regularly as the Belgian legend, but there has now been a new update which suggests Man City are stepping up their pursuit of a new midfielder.

According to a report from GiveMeSport, Man City are determined to lure AC Milan star Tijjani Reijnders to the Etihad Stadium this summer, and they are planning to offer him a huge salary increase in order to get a deal over the line.

Having cooled their interest in Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz, who could be Liverpool-bound, the Blues are eager to land Reijnders, and they are willing to spend a large amount of their summer transfer budget on the midfielder and offer him around £130,000-a-week.

AC Milan are eager to hold out for a fee of £50m, however, so the 26-year-old is unlikely to come cheap, but Guardiola’s side want a deal to be wrapped up before the Club World Cup.

Reijnders could be "world-class" addition for Man City

Scout Ben Mattinson believes the maestro is able to play at a “world-class” level, and he certainly put in performances of that standard during the 2024/25 campaign, despite Milan’s struggles.

The Dutchman predominantly featured in central midfield, while also often dropping to a deeper role, but that did not stop him from regularly providing goals and assists across all competitions.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Serie A

37

10

5

Champions League

10

3

0

Italian Cup

5

2

0

Whoever replaces De Bruyne will have very big shoes to fill, given everything the attacking midfielder achieved at the Etihad Stadium, but Reijnders’ recent exploits on the front foot suggest he could also go on to achieve big things with Manchester City.

Everton meet Newcastle United at St. James’ Park on Sunday, closing the 2024/25 campaign in good form, two successive wins sealing a 13th-place finish in the Premier League.

Taking the wheel of a sinking ship, David Moyes has done a brilliant job, steering the Toffees away from relegation danger and ensuring they could say farewell to Goodison Park in a good moment.

Iliman Ndiaye scored twice as Southampton were defeated on Merseyside at the weekend, underscoring his value as one of the division’s most underrated stars.

It’s crucial the Friedkin Group keep him on the books next year, with a few industrious signings sure to create a secure fluency to take Ndiaye and his team to the next level.

Everton chasing Premier League midfielder

Fans will no doubt hope for a flashy new forward or too, but Moyes is a pragmatic manager in the best sense, and will be focused on making under-the-radar improvements too.

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Indeed, we’ve already seen a plethora of EFL stars linked with a Merseyside switch, with Ben Knight and Sunderland’s Dan Neil two potential options.

On that evidence, it seems that one such upgrade could come in midfield, and those claims are bolstered by Football Insider who are reporting that if Everton lodge a bid worth £12m for Newcastle’s Sean Longstaff, it is likely to be accepted with both clubs eager to agree a deal.

The Englishman is about to enter the final year of his contract, and this is certainly one to keep a close eye on.

Why Everton should sign Sean Longstaff

Longstaff, 27, is thus far a one-club man, but his playing time has been limited under Eddie Howe this season, starting only eight times in the league, largely because the Magpies have such a robust starting midfield trio.

But Longstaff is a good player in his own right, with an aptitude in transitional play. Indeed, the box-to-box star is capable of breaking down opposition attacks and recycling possession by pressing forward.

Hailed as an “unsung hero” for the Toon in the past by pundit Paul Merson and as “unbelievable” by Alan Shearer, Longstaff could do the dirty work in order to promote opportunities for players like Ndiaye, creating that roundedness and energy that Moyes’ teams need to fire on all cylinders.

FBref help to underline the player’s metrics, revealing the secrets behind his success. The data-driven site show that Longstaff ranks among the top 1% of Premier League midfielders this season for tackles won in the attacking third, the top 4% for dribblers tackled and the top 8% for blocks made per 90.

What this tells us is his willingness to roam into more advanced areas and win the ball before knocking it further forward and into the path of, say, Ndiaye.

Matches (starts)

32 (28)

Goals

9

Assists

0

Shot (on target)*

1.1 (0.6)

Big chances missed

3

Pass completion

85%

Key passes*

0.6

Dribbles*

2.0

Ball recoveries*

5.2

Tackles + interceptions*

2.1

Duels won*

5.3

The Senegalese winger has forged quite the campaign for himself, such a dangerous presence in the final third, scoring nine Premier League goals and missing only three big chances.

Clinical as you like, Ndiaye could do with some more creative support, and while Longstaff wouldn’t plug that gap, his tenacious attitude toward turning play over and ability to apply his combativeness to offensive areas of the field denote his suitability within Moyes’ project.

And, of course, highlight the effect he could have on Ndiaye.

Widening the Everton midfield’s reach would allow Ndiaye to play with more comfort, also allowing those such as Dwight McNeil and Charly Alcaraz to supply Ndiaye more directly and ensure Everton go from strength to strength at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

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