Blackburn Rovers have now reached an agreement over the signing of a versatile forward player, according to a key update from journalist Sacha Tavolieri.
Ismael preparing for first summer at Blackburn
Rovers narrowly missed out on a place in the Championship playoffs in 2024/25, finishing two points adrift, and it’s now a case of kicking on next season. This summer is manager Valerien Ismael’s first chance to sign players who he believes can suit his system best at Blackburn, and the 49-year-old recently discussed his plans for the summer.
“Our job now is to keep the vast majority of this squad as I’ve learned about the players. Reliability is very important for a manager – at the same time, we need to add some of what we don’t have in the team to ensure we can compete better. We have a lot of trust in the players and, with a good pre-season and being clearer with the principles, I think we will be in a good place.”
Swansea City striker Jerry Yates is among the players to have been linked with a summer to Blackburn, but Hull City are also believed to be providing competition for his signature. It looks as though one piece of business is extremely close, though, following a fresh claim.
Blackburn reach agreement to sign winger
According to Tavolieri on X, Blackburn are now closing in on the signing of Kortrijk winger Dion De Neve, having reached a “long-term” agreement to snap up the 23-year-old. The young attacker is set to sign his contract soon and will then start his medical.
De Neve may not be a household name to Rovers supporters, but any new signing is exciting, and he could be an excellent addition to Ismael’s squad. For starters, the Belgian’s versatility stands out, with a wide attacking role his strongest position, but left-back is also an area of the pitch that he can thrive in, perhaps offering the manager a route to vary his system with attacking wing-backs.
De Neve won seven caps for Belgium at Under-17 and Under-16 level combined earlier in his career, too, showing that he was a highly thought of teenager.
A powerful runner down the left flank, he could add much-needed quality for Blackburn, as they look to make the step up to being in the playoffs next season.
Blackburn fighting QPR and Hull for "amazing" forward with 96 career goals
The Rovers are among the clubs leading the chase to sign a forward, who is now expected to leave his club this summer.
ByDominic Lund May 13, 2025
This feels like a strong start to Blackburn’s summer, and it’s now a case of Ismael bringing in more players between now and August.
Every year, football’s elite gather in Paris to determine the winner of the Ballon d’Or.
Well, perhaps not if your name is Vinicius Junior. The Brazilian famously snubbed the awards evening in 2024 when he found out he’d been outvoted for the major accolade by Manchester City’s midfield sensation Rodri.
Rodri
It was a landmark year for the Spaniard, who won the Premier League with City and also won the European Championships after defeating England in the final.
Having suffered a terrible ACL injury towards the end of the year, Rodri was not in the conversation to win the award again in 2025.
2014
Cristiano Ronaldo
Real Madrid
2015
Lionel Messi
Barcelona
2016
Cristiano Ronaldo
Real Madrid
2017
Cristiano Ronaldo
Real Madrid
2018
Luka Modric
Real Madrid
2019
Lionel Messi
Barcelona
2021
Lionel Messi
PSG
2022
Karim Benzema
Real Madrid
2023
Lionel Messi
PSG/Inter Miami
2024
Rodri
Manchester City
2025
Ousmane Dembele
PSG
Instead, it was PSG’s Ousmane Dembele who reigned supreme, having starred as the Parisiens finally won the Champions League in 2024/25.
Ballon d'Or 2025 Final Rankings
Where did the 30 nominees finish?
ByCharlie Smith Sep 23, 2025
What made Dembele’s triumph all the more remarkable was the fact that he’d never actually been dominated for the award before.
He beat off some stiff competition, including Lamine Yamal, but what does the future have in store for the Spaniard? Well, with the help of Grok, the next ten winners of the Ballon d’Or have been predicted.
1 2026: A first crown for France's best Kylian Mbappe
With Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi no longer the players they once were, it was always predicted that Kylian Mbappe would rise to the top.
A victory in 2026 would be a long time coming for Madrid’s latest Galactico but it would be an award well deserved. There’s a World Cup in 2026, too. Perhaps he’s just led France to a second triumph in three attempts?
2 2027: The wonderkid triumphs for the first time Lamine Yamal
One of the favourites for 2025, Yamal finally gets the recognition on a global stage that he deserves in two years time. At the age of 17, he’s already won the Kopa Trophy for the best U21 player, and it feels only a matter of time before he’s officially crowned the best player in the world.
Cole Palmer already thinks he is, and with numbers like he’s achieved in 2024/25, scoring 18 and assisting 26, anything is possible. He is a generational talent, the rightful heir to Lionel Messi’s throne.
Games
55
Goals
18
Assists
25
3 2028: A victory for the Premier League Erling Haaland
Like Mbappe, Haaland has been tripped as a future Ballon d’Or winner for a while now but AI thinks we’ll have to wait another three years before seeing Manchester City’s goal machine given the gong.
Given the length of his contract, he’s set to stay in the Premier League for a long time and is likely to continue banging in the goals on a domestic and continental level. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he is the definitive best number 9 of all time once he hangs up his boots.
4 2029: Messi 2.0 does it again Lamine Yamal
We told you he was generational. Two years on from his first success, Yamal is set to be handed his second Ballon d’Or, truly following in the footsteps of the great Messi.
At this point in his career, he’ll still only be 22 years of age. His potential is utterly frightening.
5 2030: Another win for Real Madrid Vinicius Jr
Six years on from what he felt was a cruel loss at the hands of Rodri, Brazil’s heir to Neymar and Real Madrid’s heir to CR7, Vini Jr, will finally get his hands on football’s most prestigious individual award.
Although aged 30, AI thinks he’ll still be going strong for Real Madrid, and with it being a World Cup year, maybe, just maybe, Brazil have got their hands on the trophy again.
Games
51
Goals
20
Assists
17
6 2031: Another Barca great does it Pedri
Every player on this list so far has been a forward but Barcelona star Pedri is set to topple the Yamal dominance by winning the award himself, following in the footsteps of the amazing Luka Modric and Rodri, the last midfielders to win the award.
The Spaniard is only 22 at the time of writing but he had a captivating season for Barca as they reached the Champions League final and won LaLiga. He’s played 59 times in 2024/25, scoring six goals and assisting eight. If he does indeed win the Ballon d’Or in 2031, his longevity certainly will have been Modric-esque.
7 2032: Liverpool's new signing takes it home Florian Wirtz
On the cusp of signing for Liverpool, who knows where Florian Wirtz will be playing in seven years time but AI seems to reckon that after securing a transfer to a Champions League giant and putting in strong showings for Germany, he’ll be the best player in the world.
Well, if it’s with the Reds, it would be their first Ballon d’Or winner since a certain Michael Owen back in 2001.
Wirtz is certainly one of the finest playmakers in the world already, contributing to 31 goals (16 goals, 15 assists) in the 2024/25 season when he was still with Bayer Leverkusen.
8 2033: More success for Germany Jamal Musiala
Germany star Jamal Musiala
Back-to-back success for Germany as Jamal Musiala picks up his first crown in 2033. This could be the start of a newfound dominance for Die Mannschaft, who with Musiala and Wirtz in tow, may well have won the 2032 European Championships.
AI is backing the attacking midfielder to trump everyone else due to Bayern Munich’s dominance, international accolades and consistent form.
9 2034: A third major honour awaits Lamine Yamal
Lamine Yamal for Barcelona
Rounding things off is a third triumph for one of the best players this generation has seen; Yamal.
In 2034, he’s be 27 and at the peak of his career with AI predicting him to cement his legacy as a generational talent. If he isn’t already, he’s now a truly household name, one of the best players we’ve ever seen in the game and right up there with Messi.
Only two players, Messi and Ronaldo, have won it more than three times, while Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten are the only other players to have all taken it home on three occasions.
10 2035: Brazilian follows in the footsteps of Vini Jr Endrick
Brazil'sEndrickduring the warm up before the match
While Yamal will no doubt be in the conversation again after winning it for a third time, his reign is brought to a halt by another of LaLiga’s top wonderkids at the moment, Endrick.
AI predicts that the Brazilian striker will become a powerhouse over the next decade, potentially winning the World Cup 2034 Golden Ball before cementing himself as the best striker in the world in ten years’ time. Grok reckons that the forward’s physicality and finishing ability will give him the edge over Yamal at this point.
The best XI of players to never win the Ballon d'Or
Some of these players were brutally snubbed for the golden ball.
Southampton have now held talks with a 35-year-old coach as a possible alternative to the heavily linked Will Still, as their search for a new manager continues.
Latest on Southampton’s manager search
Saints are once again looking for a new manager after Ivan Juric left the club even before the Premier League season came to an end. It is a rather difficult job for any interested manager, as Southampton are heading back to the Championship after a disastrous campaign and will no doubt have some of their best players poached by Premier League clubs.
Approach made: Southampton now in advanced talks to hire new 4-3-3 manager
He’s just left his previous role…
ByTom Cunningham May 19, 2025
The league comes to an end next week, and the club will hope they can have a new man in place as soon as possible to give them the best chance of aligning with their new boss in the transfer market.
Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl is one manager under consideration, and according to David Ornstein, Rohl is considering his options, but Southampton may not be a priority given he has interest from the Premier League and the Bundesliga. Steven Gerrard has also been linked with a move to St Mary’s, but those links have gone rather quiet in recent weeks.
Along with Rohl, Will Still is heavily linked with a move to Southampton, and it’s been reported that Still is in advanced talks over a move to St Mary’s after leaving RC Lens.
Still told reporters that his decision to leave Lens was so he could be closer to his family: “I will not be the coach of Lens next season. Today was my last match of the season at Bollaert. For multiple reasons, the main reason behind my decision is that I need to go back home. It is a logical choice for me to be closer to my wife for her well-being.”
It’s claimed that Southampton are confident of agreeing a deal with Still for him to become their new manager, but he is not the only person they have recently spoken to.
Southampton now hold talks with 35 y/o who's just been sacked
As well as holding talks with Still, according to The Guardian, Southampton have also held talks with recently sacked Tom Cleverley.
Watford manager Tom Cleverley
The Guardian reports that the Saints are looking to rebuild after their relegation and have identified a handful of young, up and coming managers who could be in charge next season, with Cleverley one of those.
The 35-year-old is currently out of work following his sacking from Watford after the Hornets fell short of the Championship play-offs, making him their 12th such casualty in the space of just six years.
This update goes on to state that Cleverley, who likes to operate in a 4-2-3-1 formation, has made a good impression on Southampton during those discussions, and he now has a strong chance of becoming the club’s new manager – Cleverley is seen as one of the most promising young English coaches in the game.
Games
61
Won
20
Drawn
14
Lost
27
Points
74
Points per game
1.21
Cleverley’s time at Vicarage Road was his first time as a senior manager, as the former Manchester United midfielder had been working in Watford’s academy before he was given the caretaker role at the end of last season. Cleverley is still very early into his coaching career, but the same could be said for Rohl, who has only managed Sheffield Wednesday, and while Still has managed a couple of sides in France, it is very clear the club are planning for a new dawn with a long-term vision.
Aston Villa made it five wins from their last six games in the Premier League when grinding out a determined 1-0 victory away at AFC Bournemouth on Saturday.
This win – which was clinched courtesy of Villa’s new all-time top-flight scorer Ollie Watkins – guarantees at least Conference League football for Unai Emery’s Villans next campaign.
But, the main prize of Champions League football is still very much up for grabs for the in-form outfit sat in sixth spot.
Aston Villa manager UnaiEmery
It wasn’t the prettiest performance by Villa on the South Coast, but at his crunch stage of the season, any win will do, with a big team effort needed to clinch the three points, especially after Jacob Ramsey was dismissed.
Aston Villa's best performers vs Bournemouth
Villa really had to dig deep during the last ten minutes of the clash after homegrown attacker Ramsey was shown his second yellow.
Thankfully, Emery’s visitors were already hanging onto a slim lead courtesy of the aforementioned Watkins, who once again came up trumps for the Villans in their moment of need.
The potent number 11 would find himself in the right place at the right time yet again to fire home his 75th career goal in the big time, with this effort ultimately being the difference-maker to the annoyance of Andoni Iraola’s frustrated hosts.
The Cherries just couldn’t find a breakthrough, with the likes of Emiliano Martinez having to stay very alert throughout with four saves made, alongside both Matty Cash and Lucas Digne down the flanks who won a combined 11 duels on the day.
But, it was once again Morgan Rogers who stood out in attack for Emery and Co, with the electric number 11 understandably a wanted man heading into the hectic transfer window.
Morgan Rogers' transfer value continues to soar
Rogers isn’t the only face that could soon be waving Villa Park goodbye, with Watkins – who the ex-Manchester City man set up for the winner at Bournemouth – also reportedly keen on a move away amidst interest from Arsenal.
For the 22-year-old, however, according to other reports, Chelsea and Stamford Bridge might well be his next onward destination, but off the back of a seriously impressive campaign for Emery’s men, the 6 foot 2 attacking midfielder won’t be exiting the building for cheap.
Indeed, it’s now being speculated that Villa would only consider parting ways with Rogers if a bumper £90m bid was put on the table, with the exciting forward menace arguably deep in the best form of his career at this point in time.
In all competitions this campaign, Rogers has notched up a ridiculous 14 goals and 14 assists from 52 overall games, leading to Jamie Carragher even hailing the four-time England international as an “unstoppable” force, on top of Villa thanking their lucky stars now that they won the 22-year-old for a modest £15m just last year.
Games played
68
Goals scored
17
Assists
15
Original fee
£15m
Value now
£90m
Percentage increase
500%
Emery’s side have had to exercise patience with the 22-year-old, considering he only chipped in with three goals and one assist last season after a January move, but it’s clear that he is destined for greatness now, whether that be with the Villans long-term or with Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea.
Further lauded as “magnificent” by scout Antonio Mango after his assist away at Bournemouth, his current employers will just pray that Rogers sees Villa as his home for the foreseeable.
Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers
But, with his value increasing by that whopping 500%, Emery and Co would be mad not to sell up, particularly if that £90m does fall into their bank account soon.
Same agent as Asensio: Aston Villa join race for "outrageous" 15-goal ace
Tottenham Hotspur appear set for major changes this summer, with Daniel Levy reportedly eyeing up new managers to potentially replace Ange Postecoglou, and an overhaul could also occur in the Lilywhites squad.
Tottenham face Bodo/Glimt in season-defining Europa League tie
Despite their woes domestically, Spurs still have a chance to make history by winning a first major trophy since 2008.
£165k-a-week Tottenham star requests transfer as big club work to sign him
He’s informed the club of his desire to go.
ByEmilio Galantini Apr 29, 2025
Norwegian minnows and 2025’s fairy-tale underdogs, Bodo/Glimt, await them in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final tie on Thursday, and a highly-anticipated victory would go a long way in sealing Spurs’ first European final since 2019.
West Ham (away)
May 3rd
Crystal Palace (home)
May 10th
Aston Villa (away)
May 18th
Brighton (home)
May 25th
Tottenham could face Athletic Bilbao, spearheaded by in-demand Spain sensation Nico Williams, or Premier League rivals Man United in the final, provided they get past Bodo/Glimt.
The Scandinavians cannot be underestimated, and they knocked Serie A giants Lazio out in the last round, but Spurs have more than enough quality on paper to get the job done.
Bodo/Glimt head coach Kjetil Knutsen.
However, even if the Lilywhites do go on to win the Europa League and make history by doing so, Postecoglou could still part ways with Tottenham this summer – leading to a host of different managers being linked with the job.
According to The Telegraph, Spurs are also facing a difficult summer transfer window, with the prospect of a ‘sell to buy’ strategy looming amid rumoured outside interest in the likes of Cristian Romero and Pedro Porro.
Tottenham could have to cash-in on Romero, who is believed to be eyeing a move away from N17 as Atlético Madrid put in extensive work on signing him for Diego Simeone ahead of next season (Marca).
There could also be changes nearer boardroom level, with ex-managing director Fabio Paratici still in the picture for a return to the club.
Fabio Paratici inclined to re-join Tottenham after failed AC Milan talks
The Italian was repeatedly linked with a reunion at Spurs, as his worldwide FIFA ban from footballing activity is due to expire on June 30th.
Reports earlier this month claimed Levy personally held talks with Paratici about re-joining Tottenham, and he was spotted at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium during their 1-1 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League quarter-finals.
Paratici’s negotiations over a move to AC Milan also collapsed in early April, but according to an update via Milan News, the 52-year-old held a recent meeting with the Rossoneri to discuss his appointment once again.
The prospect of becoming Milan’s sporting director was on the table again for him during these discussions, but it is currently believed Paratici is more inclined to work at Tottenham and continue his adventure away from Italy.
After being forced to resign from his Spurs post in 2023, Paratici remains a popular figure among supporters, having led the club’s pursuit of key signings like Rodrigo Bentancur, Dejan Kulusevski, Yves Bissouma, Romero, Porro, Djed Spence, Destiny Udogie and Pape Sarr.
Known for his tireless work ethic behind-closed-doors, it will be intriguing to see if Levy is still tempted by the prospect of welcoming him back.
Aston Villa may not end the 2024/25 season with a trophy, but Unai Emery could still lead them back into the Champions League courtesy of a top-five finish in the Premier League.
The Spaniard now needs to add some depth to the current Villa squad this summer, especially if they do reach the promised land once again.
Securing a permanent deal for Marcus Rashford – now out for the season through injury – and Marco Asensio could be an excellent way to start his summer business.
It is another Premier League midfielder who Emery has recently targeted, however, and this could be a game-changer.
Why Aston Villa want to sign Kevin De Bruyne
According to Sky Sports last week, Villa have held internal discussions regarding a sensational move for Kevin De Bruyne once his Man City contract expires in a few weeks.
He wouldn’t cost a penny, therefore it could be one of the best bargains of the summer should a potential move go ahead.
Kevin De Bruyne
After 11 years at City, where he won six league titles and the Champions League, the Belgian is now looking for a new challenge.
He will be 34 by the time the 2025/26 season begins, yet according to Transfermarkt, he is still valued at €27m (£23m) after registering 13 goal involvements this term.
It’s safe to say he’s been one of the most elite playmakers we’ve ever seen in the English top-flight.
A six-time Premier League winner, a Champions League winner and the assister of 121 goals in the Premier League, few have been better when it comes to supplying chances and creating magic than the Belgian.
This is the type of quality Emery needs. Although there is someone who plays in his position that is valued nearly twice as much as the Belgian.
Aston Villa's very own De Bruyne
When Villa spent just £15m on bringing a certain Morgan Rogers to the Midlands from Middlesbrough in the 2024 winter transfer window, it was deemed a signing for the future.
Three goals and an assist in his first 13 top flight games, however, cemented Rogers as one of the finest young talents in the Premier League.
Goals
8
4
Assists
8
2
Big chances created
13
5
Key passes per game
1.3
1.3
Successful dribbles per game
1.8
1.6
This season couldn’t have gone any better for the Englishman who is now following in the footsteps of De Bruyne, creating and scoring goals aplenty while shining on the European stage too.
Across 50 matches so far, he has amassed 27 goal involvements – 14 goals and 13 assists – with seven of these coming in the continent’s premier club competition, the Champions League.
The former Man City starlet even made his England debut against Greece towards the end of 2024 and was called up for Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad for the games against Albania and Latvia.
Following his display against the latter, Glenn Hoddle hailed the midfielder as “wonderful” and his future at both club and international level looks bright indeed.
He ranks 14th for big chances created (13) and eighth for successful dribbles per game (1.8) in the Premier League this season, just rubberstamping those comparing to De Bruyne.
These displays have, unsurprisingly, seen a staggering rise in his market valuation over the previous 12 months.
As per Transfermarkt, Rogers is now valued at €50m (£43m) and this is nearly double what De Bruyne is worth at the time of writing.
If Emery does persuade the City dynamo to join Villa, hopefully it won’t be to the detriment of Rogers, who certainly has the number ten position locked down with a string of excellent performances.
Worth 330% more than Nypan: Aston Villa struck gold with "unstoppable" star
Aston Villa are reportedly closing in on a move to sign Sverre Nypan.
Manchester United were less than seven minutes away from disaster. Seven minutes away from essentially the end to the campaign. Then Old Trafford worked its magic…
The euphoria of Thursday’s gripping 5-4 win over Lyon has still not dissipated, with the debate raging over just where that special night ranks among the litany of magic moments in United’s European history.
Yes, it may not have been a titanic Champions League tussle with a Barcelona or a Real Madrid, yet for those chaotic, final exchanges, it certainly felt like it. Even at their lowest ebb, this United side can still conjure up memories to last a lifetime.
What this result must represent, however, is the start of something, a turning point in the Ruben Amorim regime – for the Red Devils not to go on to lift the Europa League trophy now would be a real tragedy.
Not only would success in the competition mark a fitting way to plaster over the cracks of a dismal domestic season, but it would also bring with it the potential riches that the Champions League can offer.
Man-Utd-Lyon-Europa-League
The difference between securing qualification or not could play a crucial role in the club’s summer transfer business…
Latest on Man Utd's transfer search
Regardless of how this season finishes up for United, the Old Trafford hierarchy are likely to already be plotting just how they can improve the squad next season, with recent reports outlining their apparent interest in Bournemouth star, Antoine Semenyo.
AFC Bournemouth's AntoineSemenyolooks on
Indeed, Sky Sports have revealed that United are deemed to be leading the race for the 25-year-old’s signature, albeit with there set to be intense competition from almost every top-six Premier League club – excluding Arsenal.
The former Bristol City man – who is said to be valued at around £70m by the Cherries – isn’t the only talent within the top-flight that Amorim is believed to be chasing, with ESPN’s Mark Ogden reporting that the Red Devils are keen on Southampton starlet, Tyler Dibling.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
According to Ogden, INEOS will step up their interest in the 19-year-old sensation this summer, provided that Amorim’s men are successful in their pursuit of Europa League glory.
As per the piece, the England youth international has reportedly been valued at around £100m by the Saints in an attempt to ward off interest, albeit with that said to be an ‘unlikely valuation’ considering their relegated status.
Turning to a player who has been part of a grim campaign at St Mary’s may appear a bizarre move, although all the signs point to Dibling proving a real superstar in the years to come.
Why Man Utd could be targeting their own Cole Palmer
It was recently revealed by United youth coach Colin Little – speaking to The Athletic – that the Red Devils had actually come close to sign boyhood fan, Cole Palmer, as a 16-year-old, albeit with the young playmaker ultimately staying put at rivals Manchester City, prior to his £40m switch to Chelsea in 2023.
Arguably the “best player in the Premier League”, prior to his recent wobble in 2025 – in the words of pundit Jamie Carragher – United will be kicking themselves at having missed the boat on such a talismanic talent.
While Dibling is far from the levels of a player who boasts 63 goals and assists in just 83 games at Stamford Bridge, he has actually been described as “like Cole Palmer” by one-time United man, Dion Dublin, due to the way he plays “free and easy”.
Non-penalty goals
0.11
0.37
Assists
0.00
0.27
Shot-creating actions
2.92
5.94
Pass completion
80.8%
76.6%
Progressive passes
3.19
6.24
Progressive carries
3.51
3.26
Successful take-ons
2.32
1.46
Progressive passes received
4.64
5.40
Touches in opposition box
2.11
4.14
Like his fellow left-footer, the Southampton sensation has that almost kid-in-a-playground quality to him, with such natural brilliance having seen former boss Russell Martin describe the teenager as “the most talented player I’ve ever seen”.
Capable of playing off the right flank, in an attacking midfield role or even as a number eight – much in a similar mould to Palmer – the silky talent memorably dazzled on his first Premier League start against United back in September, having earned a penalty for his side after being hauled down by a desperate Diogo Dalot.
Such a performance – which also saw Dibling sting the palms of Andre Onana with a fierce effort in the first-half – may well have made the Manchester side sit up and take notice, albeit with technical director Jason Wilcox seemingly fully aware of his talents, having handed the youngster his first professional contract during his previous role at Southampton.
With four goals and three assists to his name in all competitions this season, Dibling hasn’t exactly set the world alight, albeit while no doubt hampered by the fact that he is part of currently the joint-worst Premier League team ever.
Southampton's TylerDiblingcelebrates scoring their third goal with Mateus Fernandes
Semenyo, meanwhile, has 16 goal involvements in 2024/25 thus far, albeit with the Palmer-like quality of his fellow forward ensuring it is Dibling who could represent the bigger talent.
If United are planning to build for the future under Amorim, making the 19-year-old the centrepiece of that project could certainly be an exciting move.
The perfect Rashford replacement: Man Utd in talks over deal for £50m star
Manchester United could forget about Marcus Rashford with a move for one player on the cards this summer.
Celtic are all but confirmed Scottish Premiership champions after last weekend’s results, and Brendan Rodgers is already putting in work behind the scenes to bolster his squad for next campaign.
Celtic on the brink of being confirmed as champions
Brendan Rodgers’ changes worked a treat on home soil as Celtic saw off Kilmarnock in style to put the champagne on ice before the split.
Rangers may have clawed their way to an extended reprieve with a draw at Aberdeen the following day. Still, even the most optimistic of their supporters know it is only a matter of time before the Scottish Premiership crown heads to the east end of Glasgow.
Despite the popular misconception that both sides of the divide are competitors on an equal footing, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Should Celtic obtain a point from their first post-split outing, they will have won 13 out of the last 14 available titles by next weekend.
Unsurprisingly, Rodgers is already making strides on the transfer front to build for the new campaign, with Mathias Kvistgaarden on the agenda at Parkhead following his excellent form at Brondby.
Furthermore, the Bhoys are reportedly keen on a surprise move for Newcastle United’s Martin Dubravka. The Slovakia international may be available this summer, potentially creating movement between the sticks despite Viljami Sinisalo and Kasper Schmeichel’s presence at the club.
Ruthless Brendan Rodgers could now get rid of big Celtic names this summer
The Hoops manager isn’t messing around.
1 ByHenry Jackson Apr 13, 2025
Celtic’s involvement in Champions League qualifiers next term has placed time pressure on new arrivals. Rodgers won’t want any delays as his side look to bed in future contributors.
Now, the Bhoys are believed to have an exciting winger in their sights that could add a new dynamic to his squad once the transfer window opens.
Celtic eye summer move for EFL Championship star
According to The Scottish Sun, Celtic are eyeing a move for Stoke City star Million Manhoef as Rodgers views the Netherlands Under-21 cap as a potential squad signing for next season.
The 23-year-old was brought to the Potters for £3 million last summer, and it is likely that is the most he would cost with his current employers now at threat of relegation to the English third-tier.
Celtic’s depth out wide – do they need another winger?
Jota
Only joined in January, likely to be key going forward.
Nicolas Kuhn
Could be susceptible to departure if interest arises.
Daizen Maeda
May be permanently moved to centre-forward this summer.
James Forrest
Veteran who will see out his career at Celtic.
Hyunjun Yang
Likely to stay at Parkhead after recent improvement.
Luis Palma
On loan at Olympiacos and certain to depart.
Conclusion: Celtic need another winger to maintain adequate squad depth.
Labelled “tricky” by journalist Dean Jones, Manhoef has registered six goals and four assists in 35 appearances this campaign and was a former target for city rivals Rangers. Formerly of Vitesse Arnhem, he has also created 48 chances and completed 48 dribbles on league duty since moving to the bet365 Stadium.
Now, Celtic appear to be firmly in the mix for his signature, which will come as a relief to supporters who are keen to see another body in the wide areas to ensure adequate cover is available.
Liverpool have now joined the race to sign a defensive reinforcement alongside interest from rivals Chelsea and Manchester United.
Slot shaping Liverpool future without Salah?
Arne Slot simply had to make a big call last weekend. PSV Eindhoven’s 4-1 thrashing took Liverpool’s form from a blip into a full-blown crisis and something had to give. Unfortunately, that something against West Ham United was Mohamed Salah.
Liverpool’s Egyptian King was forced to watch on from the bench as the Reds finally put in a more controlled performance and Alexander Isak netted his first Premier League goal for the club. But as much as that victory came as a relief, it also raised a serious question about Salah’s place in Slot’s best side.
Ahead of Liverpool’s crucial clash against Sunderland on Wednesday evening, Slot revealed Salah’s reaction to being dropped – telling reporters: “It’s a normal reaction from a player that is good enough to play for us.
“He wasn’t the only who wasn’t happy he wasn’t starting. The way he behaved is the way you would expect of a professional. He handled himself really well. A top professional.”
Whether we’ll see Liverpool’s star make a return to action in midweek remains to be seen. After returning to winning ways, Slot may be asking himself whether he can afford to change things up.
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Of course, it’s worth noting that a large part of the Dutchman’s backline simply can’t be changed. Whilst Conor Bradley is back in training, he won’t be ready to face Sunderland, which leaves Joe Gomez as the only other more recognisable right-back unless Dominik Szoboszlai drops in again.
Meanwhile, Slot still has just two centre-backs available in Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, which is a problem that the Reds could solve by signing Castello Lukeba in January.
Liverpool join January race to sign Lukeba
As reported by Caught Offside, Liverpool have now joined the race to sign Lukaba alongside Man United, Chelsea and Newcastle United in the January transfer window.
The RB Leipzig defender no longer has a release clause worth €90m (£79m) and will be available for just €60m (£52m) in the winter window. As concerns continue to grow that Liverpool could still miss out on Marc Guehi, Lukeba has suddenly emerged as an ideal option.
Compared to Manchester City’s Josko Gvardiol by the Bundesliga’s official website, the Frenchman could yet make a similar impact on England’s top flight next year, ranking in the 99th percentile against other centre-backs in the top five leagues for successful take-ons.
Minutes
990
789
Progressive Passes
46
55
Tackles Won
6
8
Ball Recoveries
63
28
It’s easy to see where the comparisons with Gvardiol have come from. Lukeba is an excellent central defender who’s great on the ball, capable of carrying or passing it forward and destined for a big move.
Dubbed “unique” by Como scout Ben Mattinson last year, the Leipzig star is also still just 22 years old and yet to reach the peak of his powers. Even if Konate does sign a new contract at Anfield, Lukeba could arrive and take his place in Liverpool’s strongest side in 2026.
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While Manchester United came from behind to defeat a stubborn Crystal Palace side last weekend, Ruben Amorim’s side could not follow that up with another victory.
This time, they dropped points at the hands of lowly West Ham. Diogo Dalot scored a rare goal but Soungoutou Magassa scored from a corner late on to rescue a share of the points for Nuno Santo’s men.
Unsurprisingly, the 1-1 result did not go down well with Amorim.
Amorim speaks out following West Ham draw
Amorim made his anger and frustration clear after his team drew with the Hammers on Thursday evening.
“It’s frustrating, it’s angry, that’s it,” he said.
“It’s not going backwards. The results are going backwards. We had some moments. That can happen. You were talking about when we had that run that team was really perfect and saying we are not that far from being in the perfect moment. We are really inconsistent. But if you look at the goal, 83 minutes, we have a long ball, we have everything under control and we need to do better.”
Amorim plans to debrief his players on Friday when he has cooled down, rather than hit a giant television in the dressing room like he did after the 3-1 loss to Brighton in January.
The Portuguese mentioned that incident after this latest setback. “In that regard, I’m almost always consistent,” he said. “I had one [outburst] and you know. Brighton last year. I will talk to them tomorrow. I always have the feeling – I think everyone has the feeling – that we need to score more goals. Even with Brighton (in October) we were 3-0 (up) and then suddenly (we conceded twice). We suffer with that, we are inconsistent and we need to improve.”
United return to action against a winless Wolves side next Monday but cannot take things for granted after failing to beat the team 18th at Old Trafford.
For that game, it’s likely that young central defender Ayden Heaven won’t be in the team again
Heaven disappoints in first half cameo
Signed from Arsenal nearly ago, the centre-back has made a promising start to life in United colours but this was perhaps his worst senior performance to date.
The 19-year-old was handed his first Premier League start of the campaign and sadly did not do too much to warrant being given a role in the team.
Heaven’s performance lasted just 45 minutes before Amorim decided to withdraw him at the break.
Despite being so young, it was a performance that took criticism, chiefly from journalist Samuel Luckhurst who took to social media in the first half to say that the Englishman had a “pretty torrid opening 11 minutes” at the back.
Luckhurst said in full: “Pretty torrid opening 11 minutes from Heaven. Got too tight against Wilson, booked and even that back pass did Lammens no favours. Big call pitting him against Wilson.”
The teenager’s numbers did not make for pretty reading either. He failed to make a single tackle, make an interception or win any of his duels. He also completed just six passes and had fewer touches (17) and Senne Lammens.
While Heaven is still young, he clearly has a lot of improving and maturing to do before he’s ready to start regular games at his level.
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