All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Chelsea are believed to be the favourites to sign a big-name striker in a potential mega-money transfer this year, according to one journalist.

Chelsea eyeing new forward

The Blues appear to be on the hunt to secure the services of a marquee forward in 2024, with the likes of Viktor Gyokeres and Victor Osimhen both linked with moves to Stamford Bridge.

Mauricio Pochettino has Nicolas Jackson and Armando Broja as his go-to options at this moment in time, although the former has had a tricky start to life in England and is away at the Africa Cup of Nations, while the latter has been linked with a Stamford Bridge exit.

Therefore, Todd Boehly may need to get the chequebook out again over the coming months, and there have been claims that the Blues had recently failed with a £73m offer for Gyokeres.

Things look to be more positive when it comes to Osimhen, though, with the Napoli star reportedly open to a transfer after Chelsea held “positive” talks with the player’s entourage.

“I understand Chelsea have had contact with Osimhen’s entourage in recent weeks/days to discuss the possibility of the Napoli striker joining Chelsea. The feedback they have had is positive, with there being an understanding that Osimhen would be open to joining Chelsea", journalist Simon Phillips said earlier this month.

“Behdad Eghbali has initiated this contact and now has good relations with Osimhen’s agent. Now, that doesn’t mean Chelsea are 100% signing Osimhen, and it doesn’t mean that he would also not be open to joining other clubs if they come in.

“But right now, Chelsea’s ownership are very keen to try and do something to get Osimhen in the door at Chelsea and one source has even said they are still looking for a way to try and make that happen this month.”

It now looks as if Chelsea are in a good position to get a transfer done at some point this year, following a new claim from journalist Dean Jones.

Victor Osimhen transfer latest

According to Jones, writing for GiveMeSport, Chelsea are the current “favourites” to win the race for Osimhen. The Blues are in pole position for the Nigeria international ahead of Real Madrid, with sources in Spain insisting he is not currently a key target at the Bernabeu.

Chelsea, who have been in early contact over a move for Osimhen through intermediaries, were worried about potential interest from the European giants. However, Jones adds that Madrid ‘spending over £100million on Osimhen has not been factored into that at this stage, giving Chelsea further hope as they prepare their pitch for the Nigerian goal machine’.

Osimhen, whose release clause stands at €130m (£110m) has gone from strength to strength in front of goal with Napoli and has been dubbed a goal-scoring "machine" and "Napoli’s heart and soul" by journalist Mina Rzouki.

82

20

18

18

7

2

146

93

62

3.89

2.43

2.04

345

120

100

Career stats, as per FBref

Meanwhile, football talent scout Jacek Kulig has hailed the player as a “superman”.

If Chelsea were to get a deal over the line for Osimhen, it could help take Pochettino’s side to the next level, especially after the forward’s 31-goal tally during the 2022/23 season.

Jurgen Klopp would typically play down the notion that his side are firmly at the front of the Premier League title race, but with each passing matchweek, the chances of gleaning the glinted trophy increase.

Liverpool were abject last season; limp and listless, a fifth-place finish spelt the end of an illustrious run in the Champions League and forced Klopp to enforce sweeping changes to the midfield – something that, frankly, was long overdue.

It wasn't that the Anfield bosses were… circumspect, but perhaps a little too fixated on landing the perfect player to enhance the existing ranks, though last summer the right moves were made to charge the pursuit of silverware this season.

And now, past the Premier League season's midpoint, Liverpool are to travel to AFC Bournemouth to maintain their grasp on the top position, though given that the Cherries have won seven and lost just one of their past nine outings across all competitions, this won't be easy.

Liverpool team news vs Bournemouth

Klopp is juggling more than a few absences at present, though the German will still be convinced that his available members have what it takes to level the Vitality Stadium with all three points.

Victory this afternoon will take the Reds five points clear of second-placed Manchester City, albeit having played an extra match.

Player

Reason

Expected Return Date

Joel Matip

ACL injury

01/09/2024

Stefan Bajcetic

Stress response

24/02/2024

Thiago Alcantara

Groin/Hip injury

24/02/2024

Kostas Tsimikas

Shoulder injury

04/02/2024

Andrew Robertson

Shoulder injury

04/02/2024

Trent Alexander-Arnold

Knee injury

30/01/2024

Dominik Szoboszlai

Thigh injury

30/01/2024

Wataru Endo

No return date

Asia Cup

Mohamed Salah

No return date

African Cup of Nations

With an extended list of absentees, Liverpool will need to produce a cohesive and fluent performance against Andoni Iraola's men, with the likely return of Alexis Mac Allister to the starting fold in the Premier League coming at the perfect time, having now recovered from a knee injury.

Why Alexis Mac Allister must start vs Bournemouth

Liverpool signed Mac Allister from Brighton & Hove Albion for a bargain fee of £35m in June, with the dynamic midfielder basking in a brilliant 2022/23 campaign that saw him win the World Cup with Argentina and lead the Seagulls toward European qualification for the first time in the club's history.

Liverpool's weary midfield was at the epicentre of the struggles last term and Mac Allister, energetic, intelligent and enterprising, was viewed as the perfect fit to rekindle the fire at the heart of Klopp's system.

He hasn't played quite the role that he might have expected, deployed as the holding midfielder across 18 of his 21 appearances, but he has been vital for the fluency and progression.

As per Sofascore, the 25-year-old has completed 88% of his passes in the top-flight this term, averaging 2.1 tackles and 5.9 ball recoveries per match and succeeding with 64% of his attempted dribbles.

Asserting control against a Bournemouth team that will look to break with a high-intensity approach and inflict damage on the counter will be paramount, and Mac Allister offers the technical control to ensure that Liverpool make good use of their best qualities and craft openings to kill the game off.

Strengths

Weaknesses

Passing

Discipline

Dribbling

Tackling

Direct free-kicks

*Sourced via WhoScored

Indeed, as per FBref, the £150k-per-week dynamo ranks among the top 16% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 8% for shots taken, the top 20% for progressive carries and the top 19% for progressive passes and successful take-ons per 90.

While fellow summer signing Wataru Endo's industriousness and tenacity in his defensive midfield duties have allowed him to serve well in Mac Allister's absence over the past month, there is a gulf in technique between the respective players and the latter will be essential in ensuring Liverpool grab all the goods on the south coast.

On the note of absentees, influential vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold is also still in a period of convalescence after injuring his knee in the FA Cup victory over Arsenal earlier in the month, and, with Joe Gomez deputising at left-back, youngster Conor Bradley could be in line to continue his exciting run of form.

Conor Bradley could shine again

Hailed for his "eye-catching cameo" at the Emirates Stadium by The Athletic's James Pearce, Bradley was handed his first domestic start of the season several days later as Liverpool hosted Fulham in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-finals, producing an arresting display down the right channel and being crowned the Man of the Match.

During that game, the 20-year-old made six tackles, won ten ground duels, completed 88% of his passes, made two key passes for his teammates and succeeded with two dribbles, performing admirably against the fleet-footed Antonee Robinson.

Having spent the 2022/23 term on loan in League Two with Bolton Wanderers, earning the club's Player of the Season award after achieving promotion, Bradley was touted for a senior role this season but was struck with injury in pre-season and only made his first appearance at the end of November, against Union Saint Gilloise in the Europa League.

Calm and composed in possession and eager to join attacking surges when the opportunity permits, Bradley has the trappings of a rounded full-back and will relish the opportunity to impress in the Premier League.

It's a big ask to entrust a relatively untested youngster with a starting berth in a big match, but Klopp has full confidence in Bradley's abilities and he has already demonstrated his potential against high-class opposition earlier this month, receiving effusive remarks after efforts against Arsenal and Fulham.

Unleashing the promising full-back – as well as Mac Allister – could prove the perfect formula to help ruin Bournemouth's day, and their fine recent run, at the Vitality Stadium.

Celtic had a significant overhaul during the previous summer transfer window in terms of the number of players that moved in and out of the club.

After their busy summer, the Hoops have definitely made the most of it in their latest SPFL season in terms of their results.

With 34 league games played, Ange Postecoglou’s side have won 27, drawn four and lost three, scoring 80 goals and conceding 19 along the way.

Now that the end of the campaign is in sight, the Hoops are within touching distance of the league title as they currently find themselves six points clear at the top of the table.

Looking beyond that, the next summer transfer window will be opening and once again give the Parkhead club the chance to make whatever changes to the squad that Postecoglou feels are necessary.

With that in mind, one figure that we think should follow in the footsteps of the numerous players that left the club last summer is midfielder Ismaila Soro.

Having appeared in just eight league games this season, the 23-year-old has played only three minutes of action since September.

This is a big clue that the Ivorian is quite far down in the pecking order at the moment and isn’t likely to be in Postecoglou’s plans for next season.

Back in January, Soro was heavily linked with a move away from the Parkhead club after originally arriving for a fee of £2m during the 2020 winter window.

Taking into account how the midfielder has failed to show the 56-year-old why he deserves to be a regular figure in the team in terms of his performances, the summer could be the ideal time to finally call his time with the Bhoys to an end.

According to WhoScored, the Hoops outcast has only been able to earn himself a rather disappointing overall performance rating of 6.25/10, making him one of the lowest-rated players currently in the squad to have started at least one league game.

This shows just how much the £10.5k-per-week flop has been stealing a living this season.

To further highlight how ineffective the player has been for the Bhoys in this campaign, he has one yellow card to his name but not even a single successful tackle.

With the likes of Tom Rogic, Callum McGregor, Matt O’Riley, David Turnbull and Reo Hatate all contributing to the team in terms of scoring goals, it’s no wonder that Soro has not been in Postecoglou’s thinking in recent months.

90% of voters in a recent poll ran by Football FanCast claimed that the club should look to get rid of the player in the summer, so things aren’t looking great for his future in a Celtic shirt.

Moving forward, if the Bhoys are able to pick up any sort of cash for the player in the summer and sell him on a permanent deal, this will certainly be the best option for all parties.

In other news: Celtic now plotting 7-figure bid for 14 G/A sensation, he’s perfect for Angeball

Glasgow Rangers have been dealt a late injury blow ahead of their Scottish Premiership clash against Motherwell on Saturday afternoon, with Kemar Roofe the latest to be ruled out.

Add this to the news that Aaron Ramsey is unavailable for the Ibrox side and Giovanni van Bronckhorst faces a double injury blow that could have massive ramifications for the rest of the season.

However, there was some sort of good news following the pre-match press conference (via BBC Sport), in which the Rangers manager confirmed that Ramsey would only be missing three matches, along with Roofe, with an expected return due for the second leg Europa League clash against RB Leipzig.

Both players have ignited Gers’ chances of landing some silverware at the end of the season in recent weeks. Ever since Alfredo Morelos was ruled out for the remainder of the campaign due to injury, Roofe has stepped up to the plate, scoring vital goals against Dundee and St Mirren.

These injuries mean Van Bronckhorst will need to reshuffle his pack ahead of the crucial tie against Motherwell – something that is sure to have left the Dutchman fuming – with some players aiming to step up and take their opportunity.

Fashion Sakala is one of them. The lively Zambian has scored 10 goals and notched three assists in all competitions this season, more impressive when you consider the majority of those have been from the bench.

There is no doubt that losing Roofe and Ramsey to injury is a huge blow, but the Rangers faithful should get behind the likes of Sakala and Steven Davis as they are more than capable of slotting into the side when needed.

The Gers face eight cup finals before the end of the season (nine if they reach the Europa League final) and the squad should be brimming with confidence at the incredible opportunity that has presented itself.

AND in other news: £4.3m down the drain: “Massive” £25k-p/w “problem” robbed Rangers blind for 84 weeks

It’s almost time for Arsenal to return home ahead of, what supporters hope will be, an historic season.

Having landed back in England following their Asian tour, the Gunners will face Villarreal and Athletic Club Bilbao in friendlies in North London this week, ahead of their league opener against Manchester United at Old Trafford a week on Sunday.

Off the pitch, so far this summer, as Mikel Arteta’s team target the Premier League title, they’ve already made six summer signings, the most they’ve recruited in a single July for 28 years, but will another soon follow?

Arsenal well stocked at the back

While question marks remain in the final third, Arsenal are certainly covered when it comes to defensive options.

Cristhian Mosquera has arrived from Valencia for a reported fee of £13m, set to be the understudy to William Saliba as the right-sided centre-back, with Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori, and Jakub Kiwior very much ensuring the left side is covered too.

Now, though, according to a report by Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal “have made initial contact” to sign 20-year-old defender Jérémy Jacquet from Stade Rennais.

Romano adds that the Gunners may wait until next summer to make a move, although they could accelerate their interest ‘in case of exits’, with Ahad Shaukat of Caught Offside noting that there is plenty of interest in Kiwior.

Transfer Focus

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

This means that the Poland international’s future could dictate whether the club swoop for Jacquet this summer, or wait to snap him up next year.

Arsenal have a rich tradition when it comes to French players: Thierry Henry, Robert Pirès, Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit, to name just a few, so could Jacquet become the latest to call North London home?

What Jérémy Jacquet would bring to Arsenal

Jaquet, who came through Rennes youth academy, has actually made just 12 senior appearances for les Rouge et Noirs, spending 12 months on loan at Clermont Foot, featuring six times in Ligue 1 and 17 times in Ligue 2 for les Lanciers, before being recalled in January.

His performances have earned rave reviews, with Ben Mattinson labelling him a “Rolls-Royce” who will be the world’s “next highly coveted” centre-back.

Mattinson praises his “composure” and duel-winning ability, believing that he is “physically imposing” and able to “defend big spaces effectively”, concluding that he will be playing at a very high level in the not-too-distant future.

Meantime, podcaster Phil Costa adds that Jacquet is “one of the best defensive prospects” on the planet, impressed by his ability to take “a lot of responsibility” in possession.

Jacquet was born in Bondy, a northeastern suburb of Paris, a commune with just a population of little over 50,000, but a certain William Saliba was also born there, which is quite a coincidence, so let’s see how the duo compare.

Age

20

18

Senior appearances

36

19

Senior minutes

2,732

1,577

Ligue 1 appearances

18

16

France U21 caps

2

Zero

As the table documents, despite being very inexperienced, Jacquet actually has more experience right now than Saliba did when Arsenal signed him for a reported fee of £27m from Saint-Étienne in 2019.

However, it was three years until Saliba finally made his debut for the club at Selhurst Park, loaned back to Saint-Étienne before also spending time at Nice and Olympique de Marseille, so Jacquet could be in line to do something similar, should he put pen to paper in North London.

With Saliba, Arsenal took their time and played the long game, which has very much paid off, given that the French international might just be the best centre-back in the world, according to Sam Tighe of ESPN.

So, could Jacquet enjoy a similar career trajectory?

Well, all available evidence suggests he could do just that.

Odegaard 2.0: Arsenal given chance to sign "messi-esque" Eze alternative

The dynamic star would be an excellent addition to Arsenal’s squad.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 2, 2025

In a major boost in pursuit of yet another addition, one Glasgow Rangers target now reportedly wants to complete a summer switch to Ibrox as the 49ers continue negotiations.

Rangers gearing up for crucial UCL second leg after Ibrox win

It’s an important week for Rangers and the most important of Russell Martin’s tenure so far. The Gers travel to Greek side Panathinaikos in hope of sealing their victory in the second qualifying round of the Champions League. With a 2-0 lead to defend, the Scottish Premiership giants already hold a key advantage, but will be wary of preventing any dramatic comebacks.

Of course, if the Greek side square up against the Rangers side that were just held to a 2-2 draw by Championship side Middlesbrough in a pre-season friendly, then the Gers could certainly be in for a few twists and turns.

Left frustrated by the result, Martin told reporters: “The first half was a bit frustrating because we’re playing a good team. They’re athletic, they pressed really aggressively, but a lot of the moments that were uncomfortable for us were down to a lack of intensity on our part.

“And I said to the guys, I didn’t like the warm-up, there’s a bit of disappointment in a few people, maybe not in the team and all that stuff.

“But, if you’re disappointed and especially playing for this football club, you have to show it in being more aggressive and more intense, not being downbeat and sort of just being out there and letting the game pass you by a little bit. So they know that now. That can’t happen.”

The more that the former Southampton boss sees his side in action, the more he will learn and that has seemingly seen him turn his attention towards the likes of Abu Kamara and one other potential addition.

Rak-Sakyi now wants Rangers move

As reported by The Sun and relayed by Ibrox News, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi now wants to complete a summer switch to Rangers as the 49ers continue to negotiate a deal which could cost as much as £10m with Crystal Palace.

The talented winger spent last season on loan at Sheffield United and impressed many as he scored seven goals and assisted another two for the Blades. Even after impressing in England’s second division, however, the 22-year-old’s place in Oliver Glasner’s plans is far from guaranteed, and he has now set his sights on Ibrox as a result.

Rangers can forget all about Diomande in swoop for "tenacious" £5m star

Rangers could cash in on and Mohamed Diomande and forget about him in a move for this star.

ByDan Emery Jul 26, 2025

Dubbed “fearless” by Crystal Palace fan account HLTCO, Rak-Sakyi would be following the likes of Thelo Aasgaard, Emmanuel Fernandes, Djeidi Gassama and Joe Rothwell on the list of players to swap English football for Martin’s Rangers side if he completes a move in the coming weeks.

The Gers have so far enjoyed an impressive overhaul, with the 49ers looking to make an instant statement, and the arrival of the Crystal Palace gem would only add to that.

Nottingham Forest are now “ready” to submit a new offer for a “fantastic” forward, who is keen on a move to the City Ground, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has revealed.

Forest keen on new forward after securing Gibbs-White's future

In perhaps one of the most surprising twists of the summer transfer window, Morgan Gibbs-White has now committed his long-term future to Forest, signing a new contract which will keep him at the club for the next three years.

Gibbs-White had been expected to join Tottenham Hotspur, with the north Londoners controversially triggering the £60m release clause in his contract, but the attacking midfielder is now set to remain at the City Ground.

In a recent statement, the 25-year-old revealed that Evangelos Marinakis’ ambition was one of the main reasons he decided to extend his deal.

Consequently, Nuno Espirito Santo will no longer be faced with the difficult task of finding a replacement for the England international, but he remains keen on a new forward, and there has now been an update on Nottingham Forest’s pursuit of Bologna’s Dan Ndoye.

Taking to X, Romano has revealed that Forest “will bid again” for Ndoye, with a new proposal “ready”, having had their initial offer knocked back by the Italian club.

Nottingham Forest make contact to bring World Cup winner to the City Ground

The Tricky Trees want defensive reinforcements and have a World Cup winner in sight…

BySean Markus Clifford Jul 24, 2025

The Tricky Trees are “ready to push” for the 24-year-old starting next week, having already struck an agreement on personal terms, with the Bolgona star keen on a move to the City Ground.

However, Nuno’s side may have to stump up a lot of money to get a deal over the line, with Bologna set to hold out for around £39m, and there could be competition for his signature from Napoli.

"Fantastic" Ndoye could excel at the City Ground

With Anthony Elanga moving to Newcastle United, it is clear that Nuno will need to bring in a new right-winger this summer, and the Bologna forward could be an excellent replacement for the Sweden international.

Last season, the former FC Basel man proved himself as a reliable source of goals and assists in the Serie A, picking up eight goals and four assists in 30 matches, while he has also impressed at international level.

Indeed, the Swiss forward received high praise from manager Murat Yakin after impressing at Euro 2024, with the Switzerland boss saying: “His development is fantastic, I can see it day after day,”

“He’s young, I like having him in the team a lot with his unpredictability and his clear head.”

Gibbs-White committing his future to Forest came as welcome news, and it would be an added bonus if they were able to get a deal for Ndoye over the line too.

Arsenal’s transfer plans include the potential signing of a Premier League star before summer deadline day on September 1, with sporting director Andrea Berta identifying one Aston Villa star as a key long-term target.

Mikel Arteta is gearing up for what will be a vital 2025/2026 season.

Arsenal told key Benjamin Sesko transfer condition as agent makes statement

He’s expressed what it will take for the Slovenian to leave Leipzig this summer.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 19, 2025

The Spaniard, discounting Community Shields, has been pursuing his second piece of major silverware since their 2020 FA Cup triumph at Wembley, even though Arsenal have backed him to the hilt with a net-spend of around £487 million in that period.

The pressure is well and truly on Arteta to deliver glory after many years building the project, even if they have come mightily close to ending their two-decade-long wait for a Premier League title on a couple of occasions.

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

Man City’s imperiousness is largely to blame for Arsenal’s lack of title celebrations over the last three years, with injuries to key players and a lack of cutting edge resulting in Arteta surrendering the crown to Liverpool last campaign.

The north Londoners will need to back their manager again with new signings over the coming months, if they hope to close the large gap between them and Arne Slot’s champions.

According to various reports, Arsenal are attempting to sign a new striker, with RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres both at the top of their wishlist (BBC).

Bukayo Saka’s long injury lay-off midway through 2024/2025 hamstrung Arteta’s chances of ever catching Liverpool, while Leandro Trossard is about to enter the final 12 months of his contract, so Arsenal remain in the market for a winger too.

A few interesting names have been linked in the last few weeks, including Real Madrid star Rodrygo, Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens, Juventus sensation Kenan Yildiz and Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams, but the latter is closing on on a move to Barcelona after agreeing personal terms (The Athletic).

An alternative to the highly-rated Williams, who was rumoured to be a top target, comes in the form of Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers.

The England international could be just as difficult to prise away from Villa Park, but according to Football Transfers, Unai Emery may have to cash-in.

Aston Villa could be forced to sell Morgan Rogers to Arsenal

The outlet claims that Villa may reluctantly sell Rogers if they recieve a £50 million-plus bid from Arsenal, indicating that a deal could be there for Arteta thanks to their rival’s PSR concerns.

Berta has apparently identified the former Middlesbrough star as a long-term target, and Villa are already pushing ahead with their pursuit of Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze in response, as they weigh up Rogers’ replacement.

Villa anticipate an Arsenal bid for Rogers this summer and are increasingly concerned they’ll lose the 22-year-old, so this could be one to watch.

There is little denying that one of the Premier League’s most impressive sensations from last season would be a stellar capture, either.

“There’s no doubt he’s an exceptional player,” journalist Charles Watts said about Rogers’ links to Arsenal.

“Arsenal saw that first hand last season, especially in the game at Villa Park at the start of the campaign when he gave them all sorts of problems. The expectation is that Aston Villa might have some PSR difficulties that they will have to navigate this summer having failed to qualify for the Champions league and it could be that they are forced into a sale of a player they would ideally not want to let go.

“Rogers is one of those players who has been mentioned as a potential departure and that’s no surprise given the way he has developed since moving from Middlesbrough.

“When it comes to Arsenal, I think he would be a welcome addition should they interest firm up into anything more concrete.”

Liverpool carry a wide sense of appeal to potential targets this summer, but they may now have a new obstacle to overcome in their pursuit of one of Europe’s hottest properties.

Liverpool look to bolster their ranks this summer

The Reds are nearly there in their quest to lift the Premier League title and there is now tangible evidence that Arne Slot could add some premium talent to his side over the next few months.

According to reports, Liverpool are leading the race to sign Bournemouth star Dean Huijsen, who has emerged as one of the world’s most in-demand young defenders following his excellent displays on the South Coast.

Following news that Virgil Van Dijk has signed a new contract at Anfield, any moves to strengthen a backline already rich on quality would likely go down well among their expectant fanbase.

Winning the top-flight is one thing, but staying at the top next term in the face of a renewed challenge from the elite of English football will be what sets Slot apart, so it is no surprise to see that the Reds also have Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike at the top of their wishlist.

Hugo Ekitike’s goalscoring record in 2024/25 – all competitions

Appearances

43

Goals

21

Assists

9

Eintracht Frankfurt’s Europa League exit at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur may dampen his desire to stay in Germany, though they remain in contention to seal Champions League qualification via the Bundesliga.

Either way, recent developments surrounding Liverpool’s interest have taken a sharp turn that may throw up an obstacle to any prospective deal.

Worth more than Huijsen: Slot has hit the jackpot on Liverpool "monster"

Liverpool hope to employ this star for many years to come.

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 18, 2025 Sky Sports: Eintracht Frankfurt raise Hugo Ekitike asking price

Per Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg, Eintracht Frankfurt have raised their asking price for Liverpool target Hugo Ekitike to £85.7 million, though he is still deemed ‘likely’ to leave the Bundesliga outfit this summer.

Chief executive Markus Krösche is thought to be behind the move, raising the price by about £17m to try and maximise his profitability following an excellent campaign for the ex-Paris Saint-Germain striker.

Demonstrating his lethal edge in front of goal, Ekitike has managed to place 40 of his 101 shots on target while featuring in the German top-flight and has also earned a non-penalty XG total of 17.20.

Liverpool are clearly big admirers of his talent and want to bring him to Anfield, but they won’t want to be caught in the trap of being held to ransom in negotiations.

FSG will likely have a cut-off point, though the fact Ekitike is still expected to leave may play into the Reds’ hands on this one.

In January, Manchester City made a handful of signings who could become the cornerstones of a team entering a new era under Pep Guardiola next season.

With only the FA Cup winnable this season, it has been one of transition for the Spaniard. He did sign a new deal last November, however, indicating that he is looking ahead to a new challenge starting this summer.

The likes of Vitor Reis, Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez and Abdukodir Khusanov have all proven over the previous few months that they have the required tools to perform for a club like City.

One player who will be departing the Etihad this summer is Kevin De Bruyne, who will end his ten-year association with City when his contract expires.

Guardiola has taken the club to new levels since he arrived in Manchester in 2016 after spells with Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

It could also be argued that the main reason he led the team to such heights was having someone like De Bruyne in his squad to begin with.

The numbers behind De Bruyne's staggering Etihad career

Given what the Belgian has achieved with the club since moving to England from Wolfsburg ahead of the 2015/16 season, the playmaker might be one of the most important players in their history.

Think back to Paul Merson’s verdict on the midfielder in 2015, who said: “I like the signing of Fabian Delph, but I think Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne are pathetically overpriced. They have spent £54.5m on De Bruyne – and he’s a player they don’t really need.”

How wrong was he? At the time of writing, De Bruyne has played 415 matches for City, registering 284 goal contributions – 107 goals and 177 assists – in the process. This is a staggering number for the attacking midfielder, meaning he recorded a goal involvement once every 1.46 matches.

During that time, he helped City win six Premier League titles, two FA Cups and the Champions League in 2023. With City getting closer and closer to glory in the latter competition, De Bruyne took matters into his own hands that season, registering eight goal involvements, creating eight big chances and averaging 2.2 key passes per game as they eventually defeated Inter Milan in the final.

He may not have reached this sort of level over the previous two seasons, as injuries have begun to hamper his involvement. Indeed, the midfielder has missed 48 games since August 2023.

2023/24

26

6

18

2022/23

49

10

31

2021/22

45

19

15

2020/21

40

10

18

2019/20

48

16

22

2018/19

32

6

11

2017/18

52

12

21

2016/17

49

7

20

2015/16

41

16

13

Regardless, the 33-year-old is up there among the pantheon of City greats for his contribution over the previous decade.

The question now for Guardiola is, who comes in to replace him next season? And will the club have to pay a fortune for the privilege? Considering the recent news, they might just have found a perfect heir to the Belgian maestro.

Manchester City's perfect De Bruyne replacement

According to the Mirror, officials from Bayer Leverkusen made a visit to the Etihad last week in order to enquire about the availability of duo James McAtee and Stefan Ortega.

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The German side are keen on landing both players during the summer transfer window. As a result, this may give Guardiola an advantage in their pursuit of Florian Wirtz with it being made known during those meetings that City would like to bring him to England.

He has been valued at around £100m by the club, who would prefer him to leave Germany if a deal was reached to sell him, rather than joining Bayern Munich, who are also keen.

City could use McAtee and Ortega as makeweights regarding any prospective deal and, given his success already on the continent, Wirtz could have the same sort of impact that De Bruyne made.

Wirtz has the same sort of qualities as another City legend – David Silva – and if he manages to make a quick impact upon a move to the Premier League, he has the potential to replicate Silva’s success with the club.

Why Florian Wirtz could be City's next David Silva

If De Bruyne took City to new levels during his career with the club, Silva was arguably the catalyst for their golden era.

The diminutive Spaniard may have taken a few months to properly settle into life in Manchester, but he ended his first season with 19 goal contributions as the club won the FA Cup.

From there on, Silva went from strength to strength. Not only did he have an eye for goal, scoring 77 times for the club, but the midfielder was at his best creating chances for others, as evidenced by his 130 assists in 436 matches for City.

Aided by his small centre of gravity, Silva used this to his advantage, getting into dangerous positions with ease. Wirtz could offer something similar to City should he make the move to England this summer.

Hailed as a “mastermind” by talent scout Jacek Kulig during Leverkusen’s stunning 2023/24 campaign, Wirtz has plenty of qualities that are similar to Silva.

Best in an attacking midfield role, just like the Spaniard, Wirtz has the capability to both score and create in equal measure.

Indeed, since making his Leverkusen debut back during the 2019/20 season, the German international has scored 56 goals and grabbed 63 assists in that time.

His club might not win any silverware this season, but the 21-year-old has still managed to create 15 assists in the Bundesliga, along with averaging 1.9 key passes and succeeding with 2.8 dribbles per game.

The transition from an incredible prospect to a genuine world-class talent is now complete. Like Silva before him, Wirtz can take the next step in his career by moving from the continent to England this summer. Just who knows what he might have achieved at this stage next term.

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