All posts by z3u9t.icu

Andrea Berta was officially announced as Arsenal’s new sporting director on Sunday afternoon, signalling a new era at the Emirates Stadium.

The exit of Edu towards the end of last year came as a shock to many at the club but for some, that has been a positive, chiefly Mikel Arteta who has now found himself with more power behind the scenes.

Upon Berta’s arrival, it was reported that the Italian was Arteta’s choice and that’s important considering they will have to mutually agree on how to strengthen the club.

While Edu was central to deals for players like Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard, he was also to blame for a poor summer window in 2024, ultimately his final venture with the Gunners.

The north Londoners have failed to sign a much-needed centre forward in the last two windows and that will be Berta’s first priority when he sits down to discuss this summer’s business.

Alexander Isak is a key target while Viktor Gyokeres’ popularity is growing among Arsenal’s recruitment team.

The latest on Viktor Gyokeres' move to Arsenal

Many a striker has been linked with the Gunners over the last year, notably Newcastle’s Isak.

Yet, with a £150m asking price, a deal seems highly unlikely to be negotiated.

RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko is another highly touted with the club but there’s a new target in the club’s crosshairs.

That’s according to the Athletic’s David Ornstein who reported over the weekend that Arsenal are ‘developing a strong interest in Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres’.

It’s noted that Gyokeres has long been admired by Arsenal’s new sporting director and as a result, he is expected to feature prominently among the names that the Gunners consider over the summer.

While signing a striker is a big priority for Arteta and Co, there’s a key target emerging in another area of the pitch.

£51m star is reportedly on his way to Arsenal

Signing Gyokeres would be hugely exciting but there is also the need to improve in midfield with the likes of Thomas Partey and Jorginho out of contract this summer.

Transfer Focus

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

Mikel Merino was acquired nearly a year ago but hasn’t set the world alight as a number 8, forcing Rice to play further forward.

As a consequence of all of that, Arsenal have been looking to sign Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad.

Reports over the winter suggested that Arsenal had been working on a deal to bring the Spaniard to the club and that a move was advanced.

Since then, several claims have indicated that he’s set to come to English football in a few months’ time, with Arsenal leading the race for his signature.

Now, according to a new report in Spain, a move looks all but official. Via Marca, Spanish journalist Oscar Badallo reported during Sociedad’s latest game with Real Valladolid that the 26-year-old is “on his way to Arsenal.”

Previous reports have suggested a deal could be done in the region of £51m, which is the player’s release clause.

How Gyokeres and Zubimendi would benefit Arsenal

Arsenal have not been too far off winning the league over the last three seasons but there’s always been a feeling that they’re just a couple of players short.

The attack has been one of the biggest problems, notably this season, where main man Bukayo Saka has missed the last three months with a hamstring problem.

Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are also out for the season, which after Arsenal didn’t sign a new striker in January has led to Merino filling the void.

So, adding a centre forward has always been the primary objective. To be quite honest, it doesn’t necessarily matter who they sign because anyone would be an upgrade on makeshift Merino.

However, with Isak looking off the table due to his price tag, Gyokeres would surely be the next best thing. Why? Well, he’s one of the most prolific forwards in the game.

In fact, across all first division football worldwide in 2024, no player scored more than Gyokeres’ 36 goals.

Added to that, the Swedish powerhouse is the sixth-highest goal scorer in first division football throughout 2025, finding the net on 12 occasions in ten games.

1. Alex (Dewa United)

17

2. Mohanad Ali (Al Shorta)

15

3. Marcos Leonardo (Al Hilal)

14

4. Ousmane Dembele (PSG)

13

5. Ivan Toney (Al Ahli)

13

6. Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting)

12

7. Mika Biereth (Monaco)

12

8. Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid)

12

He’s certainly a freak of nature when it comes to scoring goals, beating the goalkeeper on 42 occasions in as many games this season.

So, on that basis, he could well be the missing piece of the puzzle as far as Arsenal are concerned.

However, in order for the former Coventry City star to get those goal-scoring opportunities, he needs his teammates to exert control and in Zubimendi, they’d get that in abundance.

Described as “one of the best central midfielders in the world” by Spain boss Luis de la Fuente, he could be the Rodri-esque signing Arsenal could make in order to take their team to the next level.

He’s a Jorginho-type sitting midfielder who has a beautiful passing range, knows how to evade the press and can playmake from deep. He’s like Rodri, just a little less physical.

Boasting a fine all-round game, the Spain international ranks within the best 15% of midfielders in LaLiga for progressive passes per 90 minutes this season, the top 18% for aerial duels won and the best 6% for take-on success.

What we can establish from that is that he’s a capable dribbler, he doesn’t back out from duels and he can play the ball forward. Very often sitting players like Zubimendi can be criticised for playing sideways but that certainly isn’t the case here. He ranks in the top 21% of positionally similar players in Spain’s top-flight for passes into the final third per 90.

On this evidence, Gyokeres need not worry about the speed of Arsenal’s transition from defence to attack. You take a look at Zubimendi, Rice and Martin Odegaard and see three players who want to pass forward.

These potential arrivals could be game-changers in Arsenal’s pursuit of winning the Premier League title next term.

Arteta can forget Gyokeres by unleashing Arsenal star who's "like Henry"

Arsenal are unlikely to spend £150m on Alexander Isak.

1 ByMatt Dawson Mar 30, 2025

Anfield’s sporting director, Richard Hughes, will have already completed a comprehensive audit of Liverpool’s accounts and how the transfer kitty can be distributed this summer.

How indeed. Audit or not, several crunch variables are at play which could shape, dissemble and remould the summer strategy. Namely, three certain players are into the eleventh hour of their bumper contracts, and while Liverpool want to tie them down, the devil’s in the details and the details do matter.

1.

Mohamed Salah

2025

£350k-per-week

2.

Virgil van Dijk

2025

£220k-per-week

3.

Trent Alexander-Arnold

2025

£180k-per-week

4.

Andy Robertson

2026

£160k-per-week

5.

Alexis Mac Allister

2028

£150k-per-week

5=

Alisson Becker

2027

£150k-per-week

5=

Ryan Gravenberch

2028

£150k-per-week

5=

Federico Chiesa

2028

£150k-per-week

We reckon there are easier jobs out there. Hughes and Michael Edwards need to work with Arne Slot to strengthen Liverpool’s squad, retain the superstars and prepare for a title-charge campaign in 2025/26 – all within FSG’s stringent parameters.

It means not everyone linked with a move away will be sold this summer. Darwin Nunez’s departure feels set in stone, but Luis Diaz’s future is more uncertain.

Would there be a benefit in keeping the Colombian on Merseyside?

Luis Diaz's season in numbers

Diaz’s future has been a point of discussion for some time. Last summer, Liverpool were curious about Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon, and while it didn’t come to fruition, there were rumours that Barcelona or the like would take Diaz off Slot’s hands to facilitate a deal.

The 28-year-old is one of the more dangerous wingers in world football and has been a regular presence in Slot’s starting 11 this season as Liverpool march toward the Premier League title, 12 points clear as they are.

As it is, Diaz has posted 13 goals and five assists across 42 matches in all competitions, equating to about 2,785 minutes. Last term, he chalked up identical numbers, albeit having played around 700 minutes more with all said and done.

He’s fleet-footed and dizzying on the ball, but Diaz lacks an instinctive touch in the final third that precludes a true world-class reputation. Indeed, he’s only scored one goal so far in 2025, and it was bundled in at that.

With the likes of Barcelona retaining their interest, Liverpool may well consider cashing in for the right price, but with so much anticipated to occur at Anfield this summer, it may be a development that rocks the boat too hard.

Liverpool closing on first summer signing

As per The i Paper, Liverpool are ‘closing in’ on Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez, who has enjoyed a barnstorming season in the Premier League.

Transfer Focus

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

Valued at around £40m by the Cherries, Kerkez has been earmarked as the optimum target to upgrade on Andy Robertson, who is deteriorating at 31 and approaching the final year of his contract.

It’s stated that talks have begun with the player’s agent while ­Liverpool have also made initial contact with Bournemouth. That said, no official bid has gone in just yet.

A host of top outfits including Arsenal, Manchester City and Real Madrid are interested, but Kerkez’s preference is to move to Anfield. This feels like one which really could happen.

Why Milos Kerkez is perfect for Liverpool

Kerkez’s athleticism and avidity down the left channel would give Liverpool something missing, pumping energy that may even reboot Diaz, should the South American remain on Merseyside.

Diaz was hailed by reporter Lewis Steele for his “deadly” efforts in the early knockings of the campaign, but he’s fizzled out. Kerkez could restore that devastating quality that currently lies dormant.

That said, Diaz has scored nine Premier League goals this season, missing just eight big chances. If he could be supplied with greater creative support from behind, there may yet be a resurgence on the cards.

When comparing Kerkez’s metrics this year with Robertson’s, you begin to see why.

Matches (starts)

29 (29)

27 (24)

Goals

2

0

Assists

5

0

Touches*

57.8

65.3

Pass completion

81%

89%

Big chances created

6

6

Ball recoveries*

4.6

3.2

Dribble (success)*

0.6 (55%)

0.1 (33%)

Tackles + interceptions*

2.6

2.0

Clearances

2.7

1.3

Ground duels (won)*

3.1 (58%)

1.6 (51%)

Clearly, Bournemouth’s man boasts athletic superiority over Liverpool’s veteran. And that’s okay. Robbo, you’ve done a great job, a modern legend at this gold-mine-rich point in the club’s sweeping history.

But at 31 years old, the Scotland skipper’s been run to the ground. His dribble average of 0.1 per game epitomises this. He’s not incapable of energetic bursts, but he’s way more reliant on his ball-playing game and the electric presence of those such as Diaz and Cody Gakpo ahead of him.

Kerkez isn’t the most relentless vessel, but he’s far more accurate when deciding to move forward. He’s at the heart of much of Bournemouth’s attacking play, Andoni Iraola often opting to funnel the ball into his patch to spark progression.

Hailed for his “incredible work rate and physicality” by Cherries reporter Alex Oakhill, Kerkez is exactly what Liverpool need, giving Robertson a breather and recharging the left flank.

Diaz’s struggles are a product of his own tameness in the final third, sure, but this isn’t helped by Robertson’s decreased attacking output. Indeed, the Tartan general has yet to register a single goal involvement in the Premier League this year. Should that statistic remain, it would be a career first, across stints both at Liverpool and Hull City.

Kerkez, meanwhile, is feasting at the Vitality Stadium, showcasing an eye for goal and a delicious range of passing that bears a certain semblance to Robertson in his pomp.

It’s going to boost Liverpool and then some, giving Slot a tenacious and hungry young star to make this talented team even better.

Sky Sports pundit Izzy Christensen said this: “He’s been a machine this season and the frightening thing is he’s not even at his peak yet.”

It may even be the perfect move for Diaz, capturing that purple-patch form that he’s capable of crafting. But sustaining it, enlivening it and imbuing it with a supply line that won’t cease in its production.

Slot can axe Jota for Liverpool teen who's a "better finisher than Nunez"

Liverpool are planning for significant changes in the transfer market this summer.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Mar 19, 2025

West Ham United are looking to pip Manchester United to the signing of a £25m defender after making an approach.

West Ham transfer rumours

The Irons haven’t had the season they would have been hoping for after splashing the cash in the summer under Julen Lopetegui. The Spaniard was dismissed at the beginning of 2025, with Graham Potter the new man in charge at the London Stadium.

Max Kilman

Wolves

€47.5m

Crysencio Summerville

Leeds United

€29.3m

Niclas Fullkrug

Borussia Dortmund

€27m

Luis Guilherme

Palmeiras

€23m

Mohamadou Kante

Paris FC

Undisclosed

Aaron Wan-Bissaka

Man Utd

€18m

Wes Foderingham

Sheffield United

Free transfer

Guido Rodriguez

Real Betis

Free transfer

Jean-Clair Todibo

Nice

Loan transfer

Carlos Soler

PSG

Loan transfer

Evan Ferguson

Brighton

Loan transfer

The Hammers have 10 Premier League games remaining and are currently 16 points clear of safety and 16 points adrift of the top four.

As a result, attention behind the scenes is seemingly turning towards the summer transfer window ahead of Potter’s first full season in charge.

West Ham eyeing move for £42m "king of kings" with 19 goals this season

The Hammers have set their sights on a forward who has been prolific in front of goal this season.

ByDominic Lund Mar 10, 2025

A number of players have been linked with moves to West Ham in recent weeks and a marquee forward signing appears to be high on the to-do list after Evan Ferguson’s loan spell from Brighton comes to an end.

Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitike is once again a target for West Ham, whereas preliminary contact has been made over a deal to sign Tammy Abraham.

As well as attacking additions, new signings at the back could also be needed, and a new name has now emerged on the Irons’ transfer radar.

West Ham make contact to sign £25m defender

According to reports in Italy, relayed by Sport Witness, West Ham have made an approach over a move to sign Genoa defender Koni de Winter.

The Hammers have ‘asked for information’ over a deal to sign the Belgium international, as have top-flight rivals Man Utd and Tottenham Hotspur.

Genoa have reportedly set a €30m (£25m) asking price as they look to make a profit on De Winter, who they only signed permanently from Juventus last year.

Serie A sides Napoli and Roma are also keen on the 22-year-old, who can play as a centre-back, right-back or defensive midfielder. De Winter came through the academy at Juventus and has been called “gifted” by U23 scout Antonio Mango in the past.

A move to West Ham could therefore be one to watch for De Winter, who may end up rivalling the likes of Max Kilman, Konstantinos Mavropanos and Jean-Clair Todibo, should he make his loan deal permanent under Potter.

Celtic’s march towards yet another title continues.

Last Saturday evening, Brendan Rodgers’ side battled to victory at St Mirren, leading twice through Jeffrey Schlupp’s sweet strike and then Arne Engels’ spot-kick, only for the Buddies to hit back both times.

Nevertheless, a quick-fire late double from substitute Yang Hyun-jun, with in-form Daizen Maeda on target in between, saw the Hoops collect three points in Paisley.

As a result, given that Rangers were beaten earlier in the day, they are now 16 points clear at the top, on course to wrap up the title before the split, with an Old Firm derby coming up a week on Sunday.

However, would the Hoops be even more potent in attack had they not let go of a former forward who’s now outperforming the returning Jota?

How Jota has performed since returning to Celtic

Jota returned to Celtic in January, to much fanfare, rejoining the club from Stade Rennais for a reported fee of £8m, having departed just 18 months earlier for £25m, a joint-club-record.

Fair to say, the Portuguese winger’s time in Saudi Arabia did not go to plan, making just 25 appearances for Al-Ittihad, thereby featuring in less than 50% of their matches, having not been registered for league matches for more than half the season; the Saudi Pro League has a limit on foreign players.

As a result, last August, Jota was sold to Stade Rennais in Ligue 1 for €10m but, after featuring only ten times for les Rouge et Noirs, he rejoined Celtic in January, with Kyōgo Furuhashi moving in the opposite direction to Brittany.

Since arriving back in Glasgow, the Portuguese winger scored off the bench during his second Celtic debut at Motherwell.

He’s subsequently been on target against both Dundee and Aberdeen, although Rodgers has admitted his marquee January signing “is not quite at the physical level yet”, needing to rebuild match sharpness having played very little for almost two years.

Jota is undoubtedly a beloved figure for all Celtic supporters, but there is a forgotten ex-forward who has outscored the superstar from Portugal in recent times.

Forgotten Celtic forward in form stateside

If you don’t remember too much about Lewis Morgan’s Celtic career, well we don’t blame you.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

He arrived from St Mirren for a reported fee of £300,000 in July 2018, but made just 31 appearances in hoops, scoring only two goals, on target against AIK in a Europa League qualifier in Stockholm, before netting against Rennes in a dead-rubber group game a few months later.

Following a loan spell at Sunderland, Morgan was then sold to Major League Soccer expansion club Inter Miami in January 2020 for around £400,000, as the Celts made a small profit.

His time in Florida was far from spectacular, scoring just seven goals in 58 appearances for Inter Miami, but he must have done something to attract the attention of those in New Jersey because, after two years in Fort Lauderdale, he was sold to New York Red Bulls for $1.2m in General Allocation Money, a pretty sizable fee by intra-MLS deal standards.

The Scottish international has certainly found a home at Red Bull Arena, scoring a hat-trick during only his second appearance for RBNY away to Toronto, netting 18 times during his first season in New Jersey.

Morgan then endured a pretty miserable 2023, only able to make six appearances due to a hip injury that required surgery, given only a 20% chance ‘of returning to his peak’ level, as noted by Joseph Lowery of Back Heeled.

Despite this prognosis, Morgan certainly rediscovered top form in 2024, scoring 13 goals in 29 regular season appearances, a key figure as New York Red Bulls reached MLS Cup Final for the first time since 2008, ultimately beaten by LA Galaxy.

His manager Sandro Schwarz described Morgan’s form as “incredible”, reflected by the fact he was named MLS Comeback Player of the Year in 2024, the award given to a player ‘who showed impressive improvement after overcoming a serious injury’.

So, let’s see how Morgan’s numbers compare to Jota’s over the last 12 months.

Appearances

37

33

Minutes

3,140

1,717

Goals

13

7

Minutes per goal

242

245

Assists

7

3

As the table shows, Morgan has scored six more goals than Jota in the last 12 months although, given that he’s played almost twice as many minutes, their minutes-per-goal records are remarkably similar.

According to Transfermarkt, the Scot is now worth a career-high £5m, 12.5 times more than the fee he was initially sold to MLS for five years ago.

In an interview with Goal, Morgan admitted he grew up a Rangers fan, precluding any chance of his ever returning to Parkhead, but the 28-year-old has certainly shown qualities at RBNY that were never on display during his brief time at Celtic Park. Perhaps they regret letting him leave all those years ago?

Celtic must rue selling "unplayable" star who's outscored Idah for 6 years

The former Celtic striker went on to enjoy a fantastic career after moving on from Parkhead.

ByDan Emery Mar 5, 2025

West Ham United are now keen on signing a “superstar” striker, having identified him as their top target for the summer transfer window, according to a report.

West Ham's striker issues

The Hammers never seem to have much luck when it comes to signing strikers, with some big-name signings such as Sebastien Haller and Gianluca Scamacca failing to adapt to life in the Premier League.

Niclas Fullkrug was also brought in last summer, but the German struggled to replicate his form in the Bundesliga prior to picking up a hamstring injury, while Michail Antonio is set to be ruled out for the foreseeable future due to a car crash.

Jarrod Bowen is always a reliable source of goals, once again getting on the scoresheet in the 1-0 victory against Arsenal yesterday, but Graham Potter is keen to bring in an out-and-out striker in the summer transfer window.

West Ham player "in talks" to leave with February transfer expected

He’s keen on a new challenge.

ByEmilio Galantini Feb 22, 2025

Talks have been opened with Corinthians forward Yuri Alberto, but the 23-year-old may just be a back-up option, as The Guardian have now revealed West Ham’s top striker target is Lille’s Jonathan David.

David is set to be available on a free transfer in the summer, upon the expiration of his Lille contract, and he is attracting the attention of some of Europe’s biggest clubs, with Inter Milan and Juventus also keen.

The report claims the Canadian now looks certain to leave Lille at the end of the season, but it remains to be seen whether the Hammers will be able to meet his high wage demands.

"Superstar" David destined for the top

The 25-year-old has been lauded as a “superstar” by Canada teammate Jonathan Osorio, and he has a very impressive goal record over the course of a number of years in Ligue 1, arriving in 2020 after impressing in Belgium with Gent.

Season

Appearances

Goals

2020-21

37

13

2021-22

38

15

2022-23

37

24

2023-24

34

19

2024-25

21

12

The Brooklyn-born forward also has 31 goals in 59 games for his national side, so it is little wonder he is attracting the attention of some big clubs, and it is promising news that West Ham are in the race for his signature.

Fullkrug has struggled in his debut season at the London Stadium, scoring just twice in the Premier League, but even if he finds his feet, the 32-year-old is not of an age to lead the line for the long-term future.

The same applies to Antonio, who is now arguably in the twilight years of his career, so a younger striker will be a necessary signing in the summer, and David fits the bill at 25-years-old.

Given the Lille star’s ability, it may be difficult for the Hammers to get a deal done this summer, especially considering they are very unlikely to have European football on offer, but if they are able to pull it off, he could be an excellent long-term addition to the squad.

A big-name attacker is seemingly open to the idea of signing for Tottenham Hotspur, with there being a willingness on his side to make the move to north London behind-the-scenes.

Tottenham targeting new forward for Ange this summer

Spurs secured a dramatic, deadline-busting deal for Bayern Munich sensation Mathys Tel near the very end of the winter transfer window – which includes an option to buy the Frenchman for around £45 million – but it is far from a foregone conclusion that he’ll stay beyond this season.

Tottenham make out-of-window offer to sign £144k-per-week ex-Chelsea star

The Lilywhites are moving ahead of this summer.

ByEmilio Galantini Feb 18, 2025

The Lilywhites keeping hold of Tel will depend on the teenager’s final decision, even if he has already agreed terms on a six-year contract if he is to remain (The Athletic), so it is perhaps wise for Spurs to identify attacking alternatives ahead of next campaign.

Tottenham are among the clubs displaying interest in Lille star Jonathan David, who has been a consistently prolific marksman in France and is set to be available on a free transfer this summer when his contract expires.

However, given the Canada international will be one of the bargains of the summer window, following a record of 104 goals across 218 appearances for Lille in all competitions, the competition for his signature will be fierce.

It is already believed that Barcelona are out in pole position to sign David from Lille, with the 25-year-old making no secret of the fact he’s a boyhood fan of the La Liga heavyweights.

Ipswich Town (away)

February 22nd

Man City (home)

February 26th

Bournemouth (home)

March 9th

Fulham (away)

March 16th

Chelsea (away)

April 2nd

“(Barcelona) was always the team I grew up supporting,” he told The Athletic. “When you grow up supporting a team, it’s your dream to play for them.”

Bearing this in mind, Spurs do have other options, albeit potentially much more expensive. Tottenham’s all-time top goalscorer and England legend Harry Kane has been linked with a sensational return to N17, with The Telegraph reporting that they have a first-option agreement in potential talks for the £400,000-per-week Bayern Munich superstar.

However, there is no fixed fee in this arrangement, meaning they’d have to negotiate a price or trigger his release clause (The Telegraph). They’d also have to convince Kane himself, but reliable journalist Ben Jacobs has some encouraging news on that front.

Harry Kane privately refusing to rule out returning to Tottenham

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jacobs says that Kane is privately refusing to rule out re-joining Tottenham, in what could be a boost for Ange Postecoglou.

“I think if Kane returns to the Premier League, there is a willingness to go back to Spurs. That’s not been ruled out by the player,” said Jacobs.

“We have to wait and see if there’s an appetite for Tottenham to do that deal, especially with Dominic Solanke.”

The 31-year-old may be approaching his twilight years, but Kane’s exceptional goalscoring record has not faltered in the slightest. This season, the prolific marksman boasts 29 goals and 10 assists across all competitions, adding to his total Bayern tally of 73 strikes in 76 outings.

Manchester United have tabled an offer which would double the salary of one of Barcelona’s talents, according to a fresh report, and the Red Devils have already received a reply.

Man Utd and INEOS target youth

Since the arrival of INEOS at Old Trafford, Manchester United have made a point of targeting younger players in a bid to rejuvenate their squad.

Ruben Amorim’s side signed Ayden Heaven from Premier League rivals Arsenal in January, as well as shelling out to sign Patrick Dorgu from Lecce in a deal worth up to £30m in their only major business of the transfer window.

Club move to sign £350k-p/w Man Utd star who INEOS will let go immediately

It would be a massive call with no way to replace him at Old Trafford.

ByBen Browning Feb 10, 2025

Meanwhile, they are also already exploring a move to sign Sporting CP teenager Geovany Quenda, with The Athletic reporting that a deal is expected to cost in excess of £30m this summer and the Red Devils already doing the groundwork to ensure that they land their man.

It is part of a new plan to spot talent before they explode into stars, with Sunderland’s Chris Rigg and Southampton’s Tyler Dibling also among those of interest to the Red Devils.

Now, it has emerged that they made a massive offer to lure a young star out of Barcelona, even offering to double his salary in the process.

Man Utd table bid for Barcelona talent Lopez

That comes as a report in Spain claims that both Manchester United and Aston Villa were ready to shell out up to €70m (£58m) to sign Barcelona talent Fermin Lopez in the January transfer window.

The Spanish international, who was a part of Spain’s Olympic winning side over the summer, has struggled for game time at Camp Nou since the arrival of Hansi Flick. He has made 15 appearances in La Liga but has started just five times.

Appearances

25

Starts

9

Goals

5

Assists

5

Minutes per goal involvement

104

Despite this, he renewed his contract in Catalonia in October, penning a new deal through until 2029 worth £64,000 a week. But just months on from that, both Premier League clubs showed strong interest, and were reportedly “willing to invest around 70 million euros [£58m] to secure his services”.

It is added that they were also offering “financial proposals that practically double his current salary at the Barcelona club”, making a move financially attractive.

Lopez quickly shut down any interest, the report adds. It is claimed that the youngster “did not hesitate to reject both offers”, telling his entourage that “his only objective was to establish himself in the Barcelona first team.”

Lopez’s love of Barcelona is nothing new; in a 2023 interview, he revealed his desire to spend his career at Camp Nou, telling the media: “I want to stay at Barça forever. Man, I would like to be in the first team, to continue here. I hope I can always be here, but hey, you never know. It is the best club in the world and every year the best come. You never know.”

However, as has often been shown, Barcelona are not always able to make it work financially, and with their continued financial struggles, a deal for Fermin down the line could prove too good to turn down, especially given his limited game time under Hansi Flick.

Scottish boss Russell Martin has plenty of things to deal with early on in his tenure as Glasgow Rangers’ new head coach ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

The former Southampton manager has to build a squad that can challenge for the Scottish Premiership title, and has already had Lyall Cameron added to his midfield options.

However, Martin will also have to deal with the prospect of some of his best players moving on from Ibrox if teams come in with big-money offers for them during the summer transfer window.

Fiorentina and Marseille are reportedly keen on Nicolas Raskin, who is valued at £20m by the 49ers, and up to six English teams are said to be eyeing up Mohamed Diomande ahead of a possible swoop for his services.

The Light Blues are no stranger to cashing in on their top talents over the years, though, as players have moved on from Glasgow to pursue other options in Europe many times in recent seasons.

One deal that the Scottish giants hit the jackpot with, though, was the sale of Joe Aribo to then-Premier League side Southampton in the summer of 2022.

Why Rangers hit the jackpot with Joe Aribo

The Nigeria international was a terrific player for Rangers during his time at Ibrox, having spent three years at the club after joining from Charlton in the summer of 2019.

Aribo racked up 26 goals and 25 assists in 149 appearances in all competitions for the Light Blues in those three seasons, and his final goal contribution was a goal in the Europa League final against Eintracht Frankfurt.

The left-footed star’s form for Rangers attracted attention from down south and he sealed a move to then-Premier League outfit Southampton in the summer of 2022.

A reported fee of £10m was agreed between the two clubs for the attacking midfielder, who was reportedly being eyed up by other teams in the English top-flight, and that has turned out to be a brilliant deal for the Gers.

July 2022

Reported £10m deal

November 2022

£12.8m

June 2023

£9.4m

October 2023

£6.8m

December 2023

£5.1m

May 2024

£4.2m

December 2024 – present

£5.1m

As you can see in the table above, Aribo’s value has plummeted down to just £5.1m, as per Transfermarkt, in the three years since the midfield star decided to move on from Ibrox.

The 28-year-old, who has scored nine goals and provided one assist in 109 games for Southampton, has not kicked on during his spell in England, which suggests that the Gers hit gold with the deal they got for him in 2022.

Rangers could repeat that masterclass this summer amid speculation that another one of their forwards could leave the club in the coming weeks.

Rangers striker set to move on from Ibrox

According to Soccernet.ng, Cyriel Dessers is poised to complete a permanent exit from Rangers before the end of the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Nigeria international is ‘set’ to sign for Greek giants AEK Athens, after he ‘set sights’ on a move away from Ibrox ahead of next season.

Transfer Focus

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

Soccernet.ng adds that the striker has already verbally agreed to sign for the Greek team and has mapped out a £30k-per-week contract to sign if the transfer goes through this summer.

The outlet reveals that the two teams still need to come to an agreement on a transfer fee for the player before a deal can be finalised, and it does not mention how much money it would take to get it done.

However, The Scottish Sun recently reported that the Gers are holding out for a fee of around £5m for the striker, who they paid £4.5m to Cremonese for in 2023.

If the Light Blues can agree a £5m deal to sell Dessers to AEK Athens, who Soccernet.ng claims is set to join them, then it could be an Aribo repeat.

Why Dessers could be an Aribo repeat

The 30-year-old number nine could follow in Aribo’s footsteps as another star performer who could decrease in value after leaving the Scottish giants.

His value has already dropped from £4.2m at the time of his Ibrox arrival to £3.4m at the time of writing (19/06/2025), as per Transfermarkt, which immediately suggests that a fee of £5m would be a great deal for Rangers.

That is in spite of a very respectable goalscoring return of 51 strikes in 109 matches for the Light Blues in all competitions over the past two seasons.

His value at AEK Athens, should a transfer go through this summer, could fall even further on Transfermarkt, despite a potential fee of £5m, because he may not have the chance to score as many goals.

The Greek side finished fourth in the Super League and only scored 48 goals, whilst Rangers finished second in the Premiership and scored 80 goals.

Appearances

47

46

Goals

21

18

Shots

110

103

Shots on target

52

51

Big chances missed

29

31

Assists

6

4

As you can see in the table above, the Nigerian striker missed a staggering 60 ‘big chances’ in the Premiership, Europa League, and Champions League combined in his first two seasons at Ibrox.

Dessers, who journalist Josh Bunting claimed is “awkward” to play against due to his physicality, scored a decent number of goals for Rangers because he was in a team that was constantly creating chances for him, as evidenced by how many huge opportunities he spurned.

Therefore, he may struggle to have the same impact in an AEK Athens team that did not create or score anywhere near as much as Rangers did in the 2024/25 campaign, which could expose his wasteful finishing in a side that does not create loads of ‘big chances’.

This means that Dessers’ output in front of goal could diminish as a result of signing for the Greek side, which is why his value could also plummet as a result of the move, particularly now that the striker is also in his 30s and heading into his latter years.

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Selling the experienced forward to Athens for £5m, if a deal can be agreed at that price, could be an Aribo repeat for Rangers as another player whose value could plummet after leaving.

Tottenham Hotspur have a new manager at the helm in Thomas Frank, though he could now have a decision to make on one of his key stars, according to a report.

Tottenham make Tel second signing under Frank

There were plenty of mixed opinions when Ange Postecoglou was relieved of his duties at Tottenham. He delivered on his promise to bring a trophy to North London, but Daniel Levy couldn’t look past the Lilywhites’ dismal form in the top flight.

Frank has since been appointed and arrives as a revered figure among many of his Premier League peers. The former Brentford boss released an emotional statement after swapping Hounslow for N17 as he gets to work ahead of pre-season.

He stated: “I want to extend my profound gratitude to the club for giving me the chance to pursue my dreams and for everyone involved who made the journey such a memorable one.

“For my family and I, it has been a privilege to be allowed to be part of such a special community – it’s an experience and adventure that we will cherish for life. So, thank you.”

Mathys Tel has been announced as a permanent Tottenham star and has signed until 2031, becoming an early signal of the former Brentford man’s transfer intent. Kevin Danso has also joined after his loan spell from RC Lens.

Looking to tempt one of his old flames to work together again, Spurs boss Frank is targeting a move for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, who has reportedly changed his stance on potentially swapping the Gtech Community Stadium for Manchester United amid recent talks.

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Jadon Sancho has also been linked with a surprise switch to Spurs. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen if the Red Devils would be willing to deal with a direct Premier League rival after his spell at Chelsea.

Making inroads, Frank has now been left with a crucial decision to make after a big-money proposal came to light for one of his established stars.

Tottenham star Son Heung-min has offer to join Fenerbahce

According to reports in Spain, Fenerbahce have tabled a big-money proposal to Tottenham icon Son Heung-min that could see the South Korea international earn around £195,000 per week in Istanbul.

The outlet suggests that a deal between all parties is ‘very close’ despite nothing being fully set in stone, which could mark the end of an era for the 32-year-old after lifting the Europa League trophy last month following a decade-long wait for silverware.

Son Hueng-min – the end of an era at Tottenham Hotspur?

Appearances

454

Goals

173

Assists

101

Trophies won

UEFA Europa League

Admittedly, he did wane during a difficult campaign on a week-to-week basis for the Lilywhites, though he still managed to register 11 goals in 12 assists in 46 appearances across all competitions.

From a personal perspective, Son bowing out with a winners’ medal in-hand would be the perfect way to depart, even if his exit would be an emotional one following his excellent ten years in North London.

Glasgow Rangers manager Russell Martin finally has the chance to meet some of his players in the flesh for the first time after they returned for pre-season testing on Monday.

The Light Blues head coach will have a lot of difficult decisions to make over the playing squad at Ibrox in order to end the summer transfer window with a squad that is capable of competing for the Scottish Premiership title.

Martin will be working with sporting director Kevin Thelwell, who is now in his first window at Ibrox as well, to secure new signings to bolster the team.

In fact, Thelwell is reportedly pursuing a deal for a new player who would leave the Scottish manager with a big decision to make on two of his current options in the same position.

Rangers set to bid for Premier League defender

According to DAVEOCKOP, Rangers are interested in a deal to sign left-back Owen Beck from Premier League champions Liverpool this summer.

Transfer Focus

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

The report claims that the Light Blues are planning to submit a bid to sign the Wales international, as Thelwell aims to add another full-back option to Martin’s squad.

It adds that Liverpool have held talks with Beck over a potential new contract and that the plan has been to send him out on loan for the 2025/26 campaign.

However, Rangers are now looking to disrupt those plans by swooping in with an offer to sign the left-footed star on a permanent deal this summer, although it remains to be seen how likely a move is at this moment in time.

Why Rangers should sign Owen Beck

The Light Blues should push to convince the Reds to part ways with the 22-year-old full-back because his performances on loan at Dundee in the Premiership in the 2023/24 season suggest that he has the potential to be an upgrade on Jefte.

Beck spent this season on loan at Blackburn in the second tier of English football and started 21 of his 24 appearances in the division, averaging 3.4 tackles and interceptions per game at left-back.

The Welsh star, who was once hailed as a “spectacular” player by talent scout Jacek Kulig, really caught the eye whilst playing in Scotland with Dundee, though.

Jefte started 30 of his 33 appearances in the top-flight during his debut campaign in Glasgow in the 2024/25 campaign, but the arrival of Beck on a permanent deal could put an end to his role as a regular starter.

Appearances

25

33

Big chances created

6

4

Assists

4

4

Key passes per game

2.3

1.0

Tackles + interceptions per game

3.9

3.3

Ground duel success rate

57%

53%

Dribble success rate

60%

46%

As you can see in the table above, Beck’s performances for Dundee suggest that the potential is there for him to offer more to the team as a creator and as an out-and-out defender.

The 22-year-old star put up more impressive creative numbers than Jefte did whilst playing in an inferior team, with respect to the Premiership, which suggests that he could thrive even more at the top end of the pitch as part of a ball-dominant Rangers team led by Martin.

Couple that with his superb defensive numbers, which suggest that he does not shirk his responsibilities going back the other way, and it appears as though Beck would come in with a real chance of being an upgrade on Jefte.

As a proven Premiership performer, the Liverpool dynamo would also have the potential to hit the ground running without having to get used to the physical demands of the style of football in Scotland.

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Therefore, this is a signing that would make a lot of sense for the Light Blues, but it would also leave Martin with some big decisions to make on Jefte and Ridvan Yilmaz.