Liverpool have resolved an “issue” with an incoming signing, with a move now set to be sealed, according to a new claim from journalist Fabrizio Romano.
Liverpool pushing for more signings after Wirtz
The Reds completed the club-record £116m signing of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen last week, in what is one of the Reds’ biggest statement pieces of business in their history.
The German has joined alongside Jeremie Frimpong, who has come in as a direct replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, but Liverpool’s signings are not expected to stop there.
Milos Kerkez appears to be the chosen player at left-back, with the Bournemouth ace coming in to either provide competition for Andy Robertson or replace him, depending on whether the Scot leaves or not this summer.
The Hungarian was arguably the outstanding player in his position in the Premier League last season, showing why Liverpool and Arne Slot are so keen to sign him, and now a new update has emerged regarding the Reds’ pursuit.
Liverpool resolve issue with Kerkez signing – Romano
According to Romano on his YouTube channel (via Liverpool World), a “technical issue” involving Liverpool and Kerkez has now been sorted, with a five-year deal agreed and a £40m move potentially being completed on Tuesday following his medical.
“After resolving a technical issue, Liverpool and Bournemouth decided to proceed with the formal steps, so exchanging documents, exchanging emails. Milos Kerkez to Liverpool is a here we go, £40m – that’s the price for the player. A five-year contract is ready for the Hungarian left back. One more piece of information for Liverpool fans, Tuesday next week should be, from what I understand, the day for Milos Kerkez to travel to Liverpool for medical test and contract signing, so it’s all set.
“The player only wanted to join Liverpool, I can tell you that the player was in the list of several clubs around Europe, considering a move for him, even while Liverpool were not closing officially this deal in the recent weeks, they tried to enter, but there was never a possibility, because Kerkez only wanted to go to Liverpool, and now we can consider Kerkez as a new Liverpool player.”
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There is very little not to like about Kerkez, with the Hungary international a player full of energy who can provide quality at both ends of the pitch, registering five assists in the Premier League last season.
At 21, he is a decade younger than Robertson, therefore representing the future at Liverpool, and there is a tenaciousness about him that isn’t dissimilar to the current Reds man.
Ideally, Kerkez would come in as first choice ahead of Robertson, with Kostas Tsimikas leaving instead of him, but either way, the Bournemouth ace could go straight into Slot’s starting lineup next season.
Nottingham Forest are now in talks to sign a “superb” AC Milan midfielder, but the Italian giants want £21 million for his signature, according to a new report.
Nottingham Forest chasing multiple transfer targets
The Reds have already agreed a deal worth £33 million that will see them sign Igor Jesus, Jair Cunha and Cuiabano from Brazilian side Botafogo, two of whom scored in their side’s FIFA Club World Cup opener on Sunday.
But the Premier League side don’t want to stop there, as they look to continue their rise in the top flight as well as compete in the UEFA Conference League next season.
Nottingham Forest make bid to sign £34m "goalscorer" alongside Igor Jesus
Chris Wood could have some serious competition at the City Ground.
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Forest will be hoping Chris Wood can continue his fine form into next season, and while they are adding Jesus to their forward line options, the Reds are also looking to sign another striker. According to a report from Africa Foot, Forest have now placed a bid to sign Yoane Wissa from Brentford. Nuno Santo’s side have accelerated their transfer efforts, and they are now ready to meet Brentford’s demands, which is around the £34 million mark.
It’s also been reported that Newcastle United have once again made contact with the Reds over signing Anthony Elanga.
The Magpies wanted the Sweden international 12 months ago, and that interest has not disappeared. So, given the uncertainty surrounding Elanga, Forest are assessing a move for Man City’s Oscar Bobb.
The City youngster could be made available for a loan this summer, and he may be seen as a good replacement for Elanga.
Nottingham Forest in talks with AC Milan
But Bobb is not their only option when it comes to replacing Elanga, as according to TEAMtalk, Forest have now held talks with AC Milan winger Alexis Saelemaekers over a possible transfer to the City Ground.
The report claims that the Reds have been in contact with Saelemaekers’ representatives for over a year now, and they now consider the winger as a strong transfer target this summer.
However, there is somewhat of a sticking point when it comes to his transfer valuation, as Forest value the player at around the £17 million mark, but AC Milan are looking more for £21 million, meaning there is a £4 million gap as it stands.
Meanwhile, new Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri has yet to make a decision on the player’s future, as he wants to assess everyone in pre-season.
The 25-year-old, who has been dubbed “superb” by scout Jacek Kulig, spent last season on loan at Roma. The Belgium international played 23 Serie A games, scoring seven goals and providing five assists in the process. His move to Roma came after he played 30 games for Milan in Serie A during the 2023/24 season.
Apps
23
Starts
18
Goals
7
xG
2.49
Goals per game
0.3
Chance conversion
28%
Assists
3
Touches per game
48.0
Key passes per game
1.1
Saelemaekers is under contract until 2027 at Milan, so if Allegri does decide the player isn’t in his plans, then he will likely be sold this summer, which is good news for Forest. They will of course hope his arrival at the City Ground would see him compete alongside Elanga for a starting spot, not be a replacement for the Swedish sensation.
It might be a tired cliché, but this summer looks set to be Arsenal’s most important in years.
After failing to win the Premier League at the third time of asking and coming painfully close to the final of the Champions League this season, Mikel Arteta’s side have to deliver one or the other next year.
To help them do that, new Sporting Director Andrea Berta and Co have to deliver the goods in this summer’s transfer window by signing ready-made stars to help them win now.
However, while the focus has to be on those who can make an immediate impact, there is always room to pick up a few future stars, and based on recent reports, Arsenal may be about to sign someone who could be their own Rayan Cherki a few years down the line.
Arsenal transfer news
It was just over a month ago that Arsenal were linked with a £30m move for Cherki, and it’s not hard to see why some fans would love him to make his way to the Emirates.
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For example, in 44 appearances for Lyon this season, totalling 3097 minutes, the young Frenchman scored 12 goals and provided 20 assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.37 games, or every 96.78 minutes.
However, the stories touting him for a move to N5 soon dried up, and now it looks like Manchester City are going to be the ones who sign the 21-year-old, with transfers expert Fabrizio Romano confirming yesterday morning that the club had agreed personal terms with the player.
Rayan Cherki
While missing out on the Lyon star isn’t ideal, the good news is that Arteta and Co might soon have their own incredibly exciting youngster on the books in Konstantinos Karetsas.
Yes, according to a recent report from Greece, Arsenal are incredibly interested in signing the Genk gem.
In fact, in something of a surprise, the report has revealed that the North Londoners are ‘very close to an agreement’ for the player, which will see them pay the Belgian outfit around €45m, which is about £38m, and leave him on loan with the team for next season.
It’s undoubtedly a lot of money to pay for someone so young, but based on his ability and potential, it may well be worth it, especially as he could be the club’s own version of Cherki a few years from now.
Why Karetsas could be Arsenal's Cherki
So, the first thing to say, and it’s an important qualifier, is that Karetsas is not at the same level as Cherki at the moment, and fans should not expect him to be.
After all, the Greek prospect is four years the Frenchman’s junior and, as a result, is much further behind in his development.
However, with some key similarities between the pair, it’s not hard to see a world in which the 17-year-old follows his development and eventually becomes a truly top-level player.
The first of these similarities is where they play, as while the Lyon ace has just about spent more time off the right this season, his most played position across his career has been in attacking midfield.
Likewise, the incredibly exciting Genk gem is primarily an attacking midfielder but has made a few appearances out wide, and according to respected analyst Ben Mattinson, his “1v1 ability and 2 footedness will make him deadly on the wings.”
That description of the youngster sounds an awful lot like the City-bound star, who has more than proven his own 1v1 ability and is unquestionably brilliant with both feet.
Furthermore, on top of his dribbling, Mattinson highlights the Genk-born talent’s ability on the ball, describing him as someone capable of playing “defence splitting passes” and saying that he should not be given any “space anywhere near the box on either side as he’ll hit the corners.”
In short, Mattinson’s description of the youngster as someone who “has it all” doesn’t feel too wide of the mark, and his underlying numbers from this season further back up that assessment.
According to FBref, he sits in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the next 14 competitions for carries, total carrying distance and fouls drawn, the top 3% for key passes, crosses and shot-creating actions from dead-balls, the top 5% for expected assists and shot-creating actions, the top 6% for take-ons attempted and more, all per 90.
Carries
48.80
Top 1%
Total Carrying Distance
327.41
Top 1%
Fouls Drawn
3.41
Top 1%
Carries into Final Third
3.80
Top 2%
Key Passes
3.18
Top 3%
Crosses
7.37
Top 3%
SCA (Dead-ball Passes)
1.47
Top 3%
Progressive Carrying Distance
148.03
Top 4%
Expected Assists
0.31
Top 5%
Shot-Creating Actions
5.66
Top 5%
Touches
65.09
Top 6%
Take-Ons Attempted
5.74
Top 6%
Ultimately, while it’s a lot of money to spend on someone so young, it might end up being an incredible bit of business a few years from now, as, just like Cherki, Karetsas looks like he has everything a number ten or winger would need to succeed at the very highest level.
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Before their historic Europa League win, this season was shaping up to be Tottenham Hotspur’s worst in a generation.
The North Londoners finished 17th in the Premier League, and it would be fair to say that, bar a few players, the squad were massively disappointing.
One of the few who stood out for the right reasons was Lucas Bergvall, who only joined up with the squad last summer but ended up winning every end-of-season award, including the club’s Player of the Season Award.
In short, the Swedish gem has been an incredible addition to the team, and now it looks like the club might be looking to repeat the move with another exciting youngster who might be able to replicate his form for whoever comes in to replace the recently sacked Ange Postecoglou.
Tottenham transfer news
They might not have signed anyone yet, but that has not stopped a seemingly endless stream of talented players being linked to Spurs in recent weeks, such as Adam Wharton and Quinten Timber.
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The former would reportedly cost around £60m and has been nothing short of brilliant for Crystal Palace since joining the South London club.
Interestingly, the latter, who is the captain of Feyenoord and the brother of Arsenal star Jurrien Timber, could be available for just £25m, but there would be some risk in signing him due to him being out injured.
Quinten Timber in action for Feyenoord.
Moreover, it would be hard to draw any comparisons between the two aforementioned stars and Bergvall, which isn’t the case for Victor Froholdt.
According to Sky Sports Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Spurs have now “entered the race” for the tremendously exciting “top talent.”
Alongside the Lilywhites, Plettenberg claims that Bundesliga sides Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayer Leverkusen are also incredibly keen on the promising youngster.
According to other reports from last month, the teenager is now valued at between £15m to £20m, and while that is a lot of money, he looks like he’d be a worthy investment, just like Bergvall.
Why Froholdt could be another Bergvall
Okay, so there are quite a few reasons why Froholdt could be the club’s next Bergvall, so let’s get through some of the more surface-level ones.
Firstly, it would be another example of Spurs not only going out to sign a promising youngster but also a Scandinavian one from a Scandinavian team in FC Copenhagen.
Furthermore, like the Swede before him, the 19-year-old prospect is now highly sought-after, and it could be another example of the club proving themselves to be an attractive destination for the game’s next superstars.
Now, on to the more substantive comparisons, and while he can play in a variety of positions, the “extraordinary” gem, as dubbed by one Danish analyst, is primarily a central midfielder.
Moreover, the 5 foot 9 dynamo never stops running, covering the second-most amount of ground in the competition this season, which could see him become a perfect midfield partner for Bergvall, as they’d be able to run opposition pairings ragged.
Shots on Target %
75.0%
Top 1%
SCA (Take-On)
0.32
Top 2%
Progressive Carries
2.56
Top 4%
Carries into Penalty Area
0.48
Top 4%
Blocks
1.76
Top 7%
Successful Take-Ons
1.28
Top 7%
Dribblers Tackled
1.44
Top 10%
Tackles
3.04
Top 11%
Carries into the Final Third
1.76
Top 11%
Finally, while there is not an abundance of data on him this season, the underlying numbers we can look at are more than encouraging.
According to FBref, he sits in the top 1% of midfielders in the next best 14 competitions for shots on target percentage, the top 2% for shot-creating actions from take-ons, the top 4% for progressive carries and carries into the penalty area, the top 7% for blocks and successful take-ons, the top 10% for dribblers tackled and more, all per 90.
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Ultimately, while it is early to say definitively if he will be a success or not, the early signs around Froholdt are more than encouraging, and Spurs could have another Bergvall on their hands if they sign him.
Liverpool have been the team to beat throughout 2024/25, as seen by the progress made under Arne Slot since he took the reins during the summer last year.
The Dutchman has led the Reds to their second Premier League title, but has already wasted little time in targeting reinforcements ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
After such a dominant year that saw the club win the title by 10 points, you wouldn’t expect a whole host of changes, but it appears as though Slot desperately wants new additions to inject further quality into the side.
Liverpool manager ArneSlot
Countless players have been touted with a summer switch to Anfield, but as of yet, no deals have reached their conclusion with the window not yet open.
However, work is being done behind the scenes over the last couple of days, with rapid progress being made on numerous deals in the full-back areas, as well as Florian Wirtz.
The latest on Liverpool’s hunt for new full-backs
With Trent Alexander-Arnold departing Liverpool this summer, Bayer Leverkusen right-back Jeremie Frimpong has been the main target to fill the void, agreeing a £29.5m deal for his services.
The Dutchman has travelled to Merseyside over the last couple of days to complete the formalities of his switch to England, potentially being the club’s first signing of the summer.
Bayer Leverkusen's Jeremie Frimpong
He’s not the only player who’s edging closer to a move to Anfield, with Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez still on their radar ahead of the summer, according to Fabrizio Romano.
He claims that the hierarchy are still “working on” a deal to land the Hungarian international, who’s registered two goals and five assists in the Premier League this campaign.
It’s been reported that the Cherries are demanding £45m for his signature during the off-season, with the defender open to a switch to join Slot’s men – following in the footsteps of one player currently on the books.
Why Kerkez could repeat Liverpool's Mac Allister success
Alexis Mac Allister has played a key role in the success endured by Liverpool over the last few months, cementing his place at the heart of the side alongside Ryan Gravenberch.
The Argentine, who joined in a £35m deal from Brighton back in the summer of 2023, has registered 95 appearances in the last two years since his move to Merseyside.
49 of which have come during 2024/25, featuring in all but three Premier League matches, notching 10 combined goals and assists, having a huge impact in their ability to claim the title.
The 26-year-old now appears to be a bargain given his success at Anfield, potentially replicating such a deal with a move for Kerkez over the coming months.
A deal for the Bournemouth defender could see another young star move to the club from a mid-table English outfit, looking to be a key player in any future success under the Dutchman.
AFC Bournemouth's MilosKerkez
The 21-year-old has emerged as a leading full-back despite his tender age, having the tools to thrive at both ends, which has undoubtedly led to the keen interest from Slot’s men.
Kerkez, who’s been labelled “sensational” by journalist Charles Watts, has created 1.1 chances per 90 along with 1.1 successful crosses per 90 – subsequently able to hand other players in front of him the chance to star in the final third.
Games played
38
Goals & assists
7
Pass accuracy
81%
Successful crosses
1.1
Chances created
1.1
Dribbles completed
56%
Tackles won
50%
He’s also completed 56% of the dribbles he’s attempted, with 1.9 touches in the opposition box – further highlighting the talent he possesses with the ball at his feet.
However, Kerkez has also starred defensively, winning 50% of the tackles he’s entered and has come out on top of 4.1 duels per 90, having the capability without the ball to impress despite his attacking nature.
The £45m fee could well prove to be a good price for a young talent who is only going to improve further should he receive more minutes in England’s top-flight over the next few seasons.
Should he get anywhere near the levels produced by Mac Allister on Merseyside, it would be a sensational deal, offering Slot a new dimension to his already star-studded first team squad.
Slot's answer to Huijsen: Liverpool enquire about signing £74m "freak"
Liverpool would consider signing a centre-back this summer.
If Glasgow Rangers are going to topple their arch-nemsis next term, the new owners are going to have a job on their hands to appoint the right successor to Barry Ferguson at Ibrox.
Given their cross city rivals’ recent success, the Light Blues need to find somebody who can come in and install a playing style that will see Rangers win trophies and progress in Europe. That simply hasn’t happened in the last few years.
Steven Gerrard
Steven Gerrard managed to do all those things and more during his three-and-a-half-year reign between 2018 and 2021. Could he be an option this summer for a second stint in Glasgow?
The latest on Steven Gerrard's future
According to the Daily Record over the weekend, Gretar Steinsson from the 49ers and sporting director Kevin Thelwell have reportedly narrowed down the list to the final couple of targets.
A new manager could be announced by the end of next week if all goes to plan and Gerrard could certainly be on this list.
2021/22
22
12
1.86
2020/21
56
44
2.52
2019/20
54
36
2.17
2018/19
60
32
1.9
The Englishman led the club to their first Premiership title since 2011 during the 2020/21 campaign, going through the league season undefeated.
Of course, it wasn’t all sunshine under Gerrard. The first two seasons saw plenty of tough defeats and post-Christmas collapses, but he would be a solid option to restore the sinking ship.
However, the 49ers must take a strategic gamble on the next manager. It looked as though Davide Ancelotti was going to get the role, but ultimately, nothing came to pass with the coach set to follow his father, Carlo, to Brazil.
The ideal alternative to Gerrard and Ancelotti
So, who could they go after instead? Well, Italian manager Francesco Farioli announced his decision to leave Ajax after just a single season in the Netherlands.
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It would certainly be a major statement of intent if the 49ers could entice him to Ibrox this summer, that’s for sure.
Farioli left after failing to win the Eredivisie for Ajax, despite leading by nine points with seven games left.
It was a dismal collapse, no doubt about that, but any hopes of the club looking to go close again next season with Farioli at the helm have been dashed as the manager announced he was leaving Amsterdam.
“Francesco also played a key role in enhancing the high-performance culture at Ajax, for which we are extremely grateful,” said director Alex Kroes. He was also dubbed “unique” by journalist Lars Jesse following the news.
The 36-year-old tends to utilise an attacking 4-3-3 system, which could be a good fit for several players at Rangers.
Across his 54 matches in charge of the Dutch side, Farioli’s side scored 115 goals – 2.1 per game – while he accumulated 2.09 points per game.
One of the most overlooked aspects was just how well the Italian improved their defence. In the 2023/24 campaign, Ajax conceded a staggering 61 goals.
This season, they conceded only 32, having the best defensive record in the top flight. It wasn’t enough to seal the title, however.
For someone aged just 36, the boss has managed 167 games across his four club sides. It would be a risk, but the way he approaches the game with an impressive attacking philosophy, plus a resolute defence, could transform the fortunes of Rangers.
While the last player to come from Dutch football in Gio van Bronckhorst ultimately ended up being given the boot, his immediate success, winning the Europa League, proves that the adaptation period from the Netherlands might not be too challenging.
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Rangers have earmarked a Premier League defender as a potential new signing.
Liverpool are looking to build on their Premier League title triumph under Arne Slot and could now target a world-renowned midfielder to bolster their engine room, per reports.
Liverpool aim to establish dominance over English football
Arne Slot hasn’t taken long to make a lasting impact at Anfield, delivering the Reds their first Premier League title in front of supporters after a thumping 5-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur last weekend. Wild celebrations capped what has been a brilliant debut campaign for the Dutchman, but what comes next as Liverpool look to establish domestic dominance?
Arne Slot celebrates Liverpool's Premier League triumph
Conceivably, FSG will be willing to facilitate an exciting summer on Merseyside as Slot’s side aim to retain their top-flight crown in 2025/26.
According to reports, Xavi Simons could join Liverpool’s growing Dutch contingent for a fee of £60 million following an outstanding campaign in RB Leipzig’s engine room.
Similarly, the Reds are set to step up their interest in 33-goal Celtic forward Daizen Maeda. However, Arsenal and Aston Villa are also admirers of the Japan international’s unique profile.
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Truthfully, there has never been a better time to join Liverpool. In addition to their potential transfer dealings, Virgil Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah have signed contract extensions at Anfield in another major boost to their hopes of further silverware.
Nevertheless, second-season syndrome is a real phenomenon, which is something they will be keen to counteract by enacting a squad refresh to maintain hunger against a rejuvenated set of title competitors.
Heeding that warning, Slot has turned his attention to another compatriot who could add a new dimension in midfield alongside Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Aliister, per recent developments.
Liverpool turn attention to Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong
According to reports in Spain, Liverpool have positioned themselves to sign Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong due to his uncertain contact situation at the La Liga giants.
Earning around £310,000 per week, the Netherlands international is heading into the final year of his deal, and economic issues at his current employers have offered hope to the Reds in their pursuit of a statement midfield signing.
Frenkie de Jong’s La Liga statistics – 2024/25
Chances created
18
Pass completion
95%
Tackles won
9
Duels won
39
Goals
2
Assists
2
Arsenal and Manchester City are also in the mix to sign De Jong, who is now at risk of completing a surprise departure from Barcelona if they aren’t able to agree on fresh terms. Enjoying a fine campaign, the 27-year-old has made 40 appearances across all competitions, registering two goals and two assists as his side close in on the La Liga title.
That said, De Jong is now heading into the prime of his career and may fancy a new challenge, making the Premier League a logical landing point should circumstances align. Liverpool are aiming to keep themselves ahead of the rest in years to come, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to witness some high-profile arrivals at Anfield like the man in question.
Aston Villa have four games left to save their season. It has been a frustrating few weeks after they were knocked out of the FA Cup and the Champions League, leaving themselves without a chance to win a trophy.
The Villans, however, can still clinch a successful campaign by finishing in the top five in the Premier League to secure a place in the Champions League for the 2025/26 campaign.
Unai Emery’s side, who were narrowly beaten by PSG in the quarter-finals of the competitions this term, are looking to climb at least two places in the Premier League table to land a spot in Europe’s premier cup competition.
The Villans are currently seventh in the top-flight, three points behind Chelsea in fifth spot, and this means that there is still plenty to play for heading into the final four games of the campaign.
David Ornstein reported earlier this week that Marcus Rashford, however, is unlikely to play any part in those four matches after sustaining a hamstring injury that looks set to end his season.
One of the club’s other loan stars, Marco Asensio, could step up to be a difference-maker in the remaining games to make up for the English star’s absence.
Why Marco Asensio's Aston Villa move has been a big success
The Villans swooped to sign the Spain international from PSG in the January transfer window on loan until the end of the season, without an option to make the deal permanent.
Asensio was, essentially, brought in to provide the team with an instant boost, and that is exactly what the 29-year-old dynamo has done over the past three months or so.
The Spanish star has scored eight goals and provided one assist in all competitions for Villa to date, including two goals in one game against Club Brugge in the Champions League.
These statistics show that Asensio has succeeded in making an instant impact at Villa Park with his contributions at the top end of the pitch, which has also been the case in the Premier League specifically.
Appearances (starts)
9 (5)
xG
4.18
Goals
3
Key passes per game
1.3
Assists
1
As you can see in the table above, the PSG loanee has been directly involved in four goals in five starts in the top-flight, despite missing two penalties in one match against Southampton earlier this month.
The loan move has, therefore, been a big success so far because he has made the desired impact in the final third since joining on a temporary basis from the French giants.
Marco Asensio celebrates for Aston Villa
It was reported by TEAMtalk in March that Villa have opened talks over a possible deal to sign the winger on a permanent basis for a fee of £18m in the upcoming summer transfer window.
Instead of splashing £18m on the 29-year-old attacker, however, Emery could find a perfect replacement for Asensio by bringing Emiliano Buendia back into the first-team fold, after his loan at Bayer Leverkusen expires.
The former Norwich City winger could return to take the Spanish gem’s place in the squad next season, saving the club £18m in the process.
Why Emi Buendia could be Marco Asensio's replacement
It is fair to say that Buendia has not lived up to the hype that came alongside his, at the time, club-record £33m move from the Canaries in the summer of 2021.
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The Argentina international produced nine goals and nine assists in 78 appearances in all competitions in his first two seasons at Villa Park, which is a decent, but unspectacular, return, for an attacking midfielder.
The diminutive talent arrived at the club off the back of a haul of 15 goals and 16 assists in the Championship for Norwich in the 2020/21 campaign, but failed to immediately translate that kind of form over to the top-flight with Villa.
Unfortunately, Buendia then suffered an ACL injury ahead of the 2023/24 campaign and missed a whopping 56 competitive matches, and 328 days of action, before his return in the summer of 2024.
This disrupted his development at Villa and caused him to fall down the pecking order by the time he returned to the team at the start of this season.
Buendia played just 124 minutes of football across 12 substitute appearances in the Premier League during the first half of the current campaign, along with one goal – against Wycombe Wanderers – in two starts in the League Cup.
His lack of minutes on the pitch during the first half of the season led to him being sent out on loan to Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen until the end of the campaign.
The 28-year-old star, who was once described as a “little warrior” by Steven Gerrard, has scored two goals and created two ‘big chances’ in nine appearances and two starts in the Bundesliga to date, most recently impressing against Augsburg last weekend.
Minutes
64
xG
0.09
Goals
1
Key passes
1
Dribbles completed
1/1
Ground duels won
4/6
Aerial duels won
2/2
As you can see in the table above, Buendia put in a fantastic all-round display for Leverkusen on the wing, winning his duels, creating a chance, and scoring a goal from a low xG chance.
It further illustrates how good the Argentine star, who once provided an unbelievable assist for Norwich in the clip above, can be on his day at the top level.
Buendia is yet to justify his £33m price tag at Aston Villa but his form since joining Leverkusen and his incredible performances for the Canaries in the past suggest that is worth giving him one more chance to impress in pre-season to save his Villa career.
Emiliano Buendia of Aston Villa.
The right-footed wizard has the potential to come back as the perfect replacement for Asensio as an attacking midfielder who can provide goals and assists, if he can finally hit his stride in the Midlands, and that means that he could save the club £18m by preventing them from needing to sign the Spaniard permanently.
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It is now down to Emery to provide the former Norwich maestro with a chance, in pre-season, to show that his loan spell with Leverkusen has helped him to rediscover his best form.
Today is the day that Celtic could be crowned champions of the Scottish Premiership if they manage to avoid a defeat to Dundee United at Tannadice Park.
The Hoops only need a point to claim the title for the fourth year running, beating their city rivals to the crown once again, in the early kick-off this afternoon.
Celtic manager BrendanRodgersbefore the match
Brendan Rodgers is looking to seal his second title in as many seasons since his return to Parkhead, and could be ruthless with his team selection by dropping Adam Idah to the bench.
Why Adam Idah could be dropped
The Ireland international was given the nod from the start to play as the number nine against St. Johnstone at Hampden Park, with Daizen Maeda and James Forrest on the wings.
Idah got on the end of a perfect cross from Reo Hatate to bundle the ball in from close range in the 5-0 win over the Saints in the SFA Cup semi-final.
However, the former Norwich City attacker has failed to provide a goal or an assist in his last seven appearances in the Premiership, which shows that he has not been good enough at league level in recent weeks.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
With this in mind, Rodgers could ruthlessly ditch the striker from the team, despite his goal against St. Johnstone, and that would open up space for Jota to come back into the side on the wing.
Why Celtic should unleash Jota
The Northern Irish head coach could move Maeda back into the number nine role and that would free up the Portuguese attacker to play on the left side of the front three.
Jota, who came off the bench to score the fifth goal against the Saints, re-joined the Scottish giants in the January transfer window when he signed from Rennes on a permanent deal.
Since his return to Parkhead, the 26-year-old wing wizard, who Michael Stewart claims “raises the bar” and is a “game-changer” for the club, has hit the ground running with a return of four goals, three ‘big chances’ created, and two assists in six starts in the league.
This shows that, unlike Idah, Jota has been in fine form in the Premiership of late, with his ability to score and create goals on a regular basis from a wide position.
Goals
0.67
Top 3.9%
Expected Goals
0.51
Top 3.9%
xG on target
0.72
Top 1%
Shots on target
1.51
Top 1%
Assists
0.34
Top 17.6%
Expected Assists
0.39
Top 7.8%
Chances created
2.01
Top 21.6%
As you can see in the table above, the former Al-Ittihad forward stacks up incredibly well against his positional peers in the Scottish top-flight, due to his impressive return of goals and assists.
These statistics show that Jota is an attacker who can make a big impact on a regular basis at the top end of the pitch, which is why Rodgers should bring him into the starting XI for this clash with Dundee United today.
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He has the game-changing quality that Celtic could need to get the point that will seal the Premiership title, which would be the Portuguese star’s third in his Hoops career.
Glasgow Rangers’ 2024/25 is over following their Europa League defeat in midweek to Athletic Club at the quarter-final stage.
Having been knocked out of the Scottish Cup in February, plus the fact Celtic are runaway leaders of the Premiership, the final five league games will be dead rubbers for the Ibrox side.
Ally McCoist speaking to Barry Ferguson for TNT Sports.
While Philippe Clement was to blame for many reasons, the transfer activity, both in the summer and winter windows, has a lot to answer for regarding the club’s dismal campaign.
Out of all the arrivals to join the club this season, only a few have gained pass marks. Robin Propper could have made that list, yet he has endured a poor season.
Robin Propper's dismal season in numbers
The Dutch defender had played over 100 times for FC Twente, even captaining the side, before making the move to Ibrox last summer.
On the surface, it looked as though he could be a solid signing, especially given his age and the experience gained over his career.
Fast-forward nine months, and it couldn’t have gone any worse. Propper has failed to truly acclimatise to the physical nature of Scottish football, being regularly outpaced and outfought by opposition defenders. As he admitted himself, he “maybe underestimated” the quality of the Premiership.
In Europe, the centre-back has won just 44% of his aerial duels while losing possession 6.7 times per game, and overall, he hasn’t been the best of signings.
Metric (per 90)
Premiership
Europa League
Accurate passes
58.6
30.3
Tackles
1.6
0.8
Total duels won
5.6
2.5
Interceptions
0.9
1
Possession lost
8.7
6.7
Despite this, Propper – who was sent off against Athletic in the first-leg stalemate – may not even be the worst defensive signing Clement made this term. That honour could go to Rafael Fernandes, who, with every passing week, looks an extremely strange signing.
How Rafael Fernandes has performed for Rangers
A few winter arrivals were expected by the Ibrox faithful, but only Rafael Fernandes made the move to Rangers, much to the disappointment of the supporters.
The 22-year-old defender signed on an initial six-month loan deal, having the option to make it permanent, but given how little he has featured, this shouldn’t be exercised.
Rafael Fernandes
Indeed, the youngster has played a total of 91 competitive minutes for the Gers spread across four appearances.
His first start for the club came against Queen’s Park in the Scottish Cup, and it soon turned into a disaster. He lasted only 60 minutes as the Light Blues suffered a shock defeat.
Since then, Fernandes has started only one more game – against Aberdeen last week – and it doesn’t look like he will feature much in the closing weeks.
Across his three league outings, Fernandes won just 25% of his total duels contested, along with committing one foul per game and making zero tackles each match.
He hasn’t exactly had many chances to make an impact at the club, but even when he has been on the pitch, Fernandes hasn’t done himself many favours, that’s for sure.
It was a weird signing in the first place, and when the season finishes, Rangers should say thanks before allowing him to return to Lille.
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