All posts by z3u9t.icu

Celtic are in the market for reinforcements this summer, though may have to sanction a departure once the window opens following an admission from one of Brendan Rodgers’ signings.

Celtic hold Glasgow Derby parity as focus shifts elsewhere

Despite having several regulars out due to injury concerns, Celtic managed to claim a respectable 1-1 draw against Rangers at Ibrox last week to maintain their 17-point advantage at the Scottish Premiership summit.

Brendan Rodgers has already led his side to a fourth successive league title and had little to prove at the home of their trophyless rivals, though he did manage to stop an unwanted scenario of three Glasgow Derby defeats in a row.

Nevertheless, Celtic will now focus on their upcoming Scottish Cup final against Aberdeen before a summer of intrigue could yield movement in both directions at Parkhead.

Per reports, the Bhoys are known admirers of Sarpsborg winger Sondre Orjasaeter, but it remains to be seen if they will return to the table for him once the window opens.

Western United defender Dylan Leonard has admitted he would love to join Celtic, even if he would likely be a developmental addition for years to come as opposed to a first-team starter.

Leeds celebrate title by eyeing £50k-p/w duo who have dominated for Celtic

The Whites are big admirers…

4 BySean Markus Clifford May 3, 2025

Champions League league phase involvement isn’t guaranteed, with Rodgers’ men having to navigate the final qualifying round. They are yet to know if they will be seeded or not in their quest to secure a place, which means they will need to kickstart their summer business early to allow a bedding-in period for prospective arrivals.

In turn, departures will be needed to supplement new faces, and they may have found a prime candidate to move on after they admitted they would like to leave Parkhead.

Gustaf Lagerbielke makes Celtic exit admission

Speaking about his future, Gustaf Lagerbielke has admitted he wants to leave Celtic for FC Twente permanently after spending the campaign on loan at the Eredivisie outfit.

He stated: “If we make it into Europe, Twente will have more money to spend. The same applies if Twente sells players in the summer. So it’s up to the technical directors of Celtic and Twente to reach an agreement about me.

Gustaf Lagerbielke at FC Twente – all competitions

Appearances

30

Goals

2

Assists

3

“I want to play and I feel good in the Netherlands. I can certainly imagine my future being here.”

Signed for £3 million by Rodgers in 2023, Lagerbielke never really got the opportunity to set the heather alight at Parkhead, making only ten appearances in total last season. Labelled “very good” by former teammate Johan Larsson, he has clearly found some sort of footing in Dutch football and may have given Celtic a platform to recoup some of their outlay for his services.

Moves don’t always work out, but his regular involvement with FC Twente should be enough to drum up enough interest even if they choose not to make his deal permanent.

Liverpool are considering a move for a “sensational” attacking midfielder this summer, and he is now keen to hold talks about a move to Anfield, according to a report.

Reds eyeing Wirtz alternatives as race heats up

Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz could well be on the move this summer, and it is looking like the transfer saga could be one of the most talked-about of the summer, with a number of Europe’s top clubs lining up for the German.

Bayern Munich and Manchester City have also expressed an interest in Wirtz, although there have been suggestions that Pep Guardiola’s side have now cooled their interest, amid concerns a deal could be too expensive.

The Reds are pushing hard to sign the 22-year-old, but there are also some alternative options in mind, with River Plate’s Franco Mastantuono and RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons among the potential options, and Arne Slot is believed to be driving the deal for his compatriot.

Sky Sports: Liverpool may sell "amazing" £50m player after transfer twist

He played in the 3-2 defeat away to Brighton on Monday night.

ByHenry Jackson May 20, 2025

A report from TEAMtalk has now provided a new update on Liverpool’s interest in Simons, stating they are considering a move for the attacking midfielder as a potential alternative to Wirtz, and there is a feeling he could be open to heading to Anfield.

The Leipzig star is keen to hold talks over joining the Reds, and he could be a more affordable option than the Leverkusen man, as the asking price is expected to be around £60m.

Leipzig are open to selling the Dutchman this summer, should they receive a suitable fee, which will come as welcome news to Slot, who is known to be an admirer of the 22-year-old’s technical quality and maturity.

Van Dijk lauds "very talented" Simons

Slot is not the only key Liverpool figure who is a big fan of the “sensational” Netherlands international, with Virgil van Dijk also taking the time to praise him last year, saying: “He is a very talented player who has so much to give,”

“He can still be so much better than he is already but he has a good mentality, so I am not worried that won’t happen. I am confident in him.”

The Amsterdam-born attacker’s quality is underlined by his output in Germany during the 2024-25 campaign, regularly chipping in with goals and assists despite a disappointing season for Leipzig, who finished seventh in the Bundesliga.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Bundesliga

25

10

7

DFB-Pokal

3

1

1

Wirtz outperformed his Bundesliga rival numbers-wise, collecting six more assists, but it was recently suggested that a deal for the Germany international could amount to €300m (£253m) all-in, potentially making him unattainable for the Reds.

At just £60m, Simons has proven he could be a fantastic alternative to Wirtz, so it is promising news that he is keen on talks about a move to Anfield.

The wheels came off West Bromwich Albion’s 2024/25 campaign alarmingly quickly.

It all started when Carlos Corberan left the building at the end of December, leaving the Baggies with the extremely tough task of replacing the Spaniard mid-way through what they hoped would be a promotion-winning season in the Championship.

Unfortunately, Tony Mowbray came in and depressingly faltered instead, with the 61-year-old subsequently relieved of his duties as his side fell out of the playoff picture.

It can’t all be blamed on the seasoned EFL manager, however.

The likes of Adam Armstrong also struggled in a league he usually shines in, as seen in the Southampton loanee only firing home a limp three strikes from 16 games after a late January swoop.

Games played

16

Games started

12

Goals scored

3

Assists

0

Big chances missed

4

Goal conversion %

12%

Therefore, this might make the Baggies think twice about going after Armstrong permanently now his loan deal has expired, with these three strikers perhaps on the West Brom shopping list instead to try and bolster their firepower.

1 Marc Guiu

West Brom could boldly go down the route of exploring the loan market once more with Chelsea hotshot Marc Guiu, irrespective of Armstrong’s poor stint at the Hawthorns.

After all, the Baggies have succeeded in the past when gifting an up-and-coming starlet chances away from Stamford Bridge, with Romelu Lukaku once just a wide-eyed attacker like Guiu before exploding into life in the West Midlands.

Guiu would hope to follow in the deadly Belgian’s footsteps if he is picked up by the promotion-aspiring Baggies this summer, having previously reportedly been on their radar around the time of Armstrong’s move.

The promising 19-year-old managed to bag six goals for Enzo Maresca’s men last season despite limited first-team action, meaning more game-time to come down a division could get even more out of the raw Spaniard.

2 Willem Geubbels

West Brom could be up against it in attempting to land the services of St. Gallen star Willem Geubbels, considering he is being linked with a £4.6m move to Premier League-bound Leeds United.

But, never say never over the Swiss attacker wanting more game-time by relocating to the Hawthorns instead, having been a long-term target on the Baggies’ agenda.

His goalscoring expertise in the Swiss Super League has even resulted in football talent scout Jacek Kulig heralding Geubbels as an “absolute top talent” and for many a valid reason too, considering the 23-year-old has hammered home an impressive 17 strikes this season from 41 overall clashes.

Therefore, the in-demand Frenchman could push a returning Josh Maja for a starting spot next campaign if he were to move to England, away from also allowing West Brom to immediately forget about Armstrong’s frustrating spell.

3 Ali Al-Hamadi

Lastly, away from thinking outside the box by shopping in Europe or snapping up a rising top-flight star, West Brom could go after a centre-forward talent full to the brim with EFL experience in Ali Al-Hamadi.

The Iraq international didn’t set the world alight out on loan with Stoke City this season just gone when registering only two weak goals from 15 games, but he has proven in the past for parent side Ipswich Town in the Championship that he’s a reliable option to call upon when the deadlock needs to be broken.

Games played

14

Games started

1

Minutes averaged*

22

Goals scored

4

Assists

0

Scoring frequency*

72 mins

Staggeringly, despite only starting one league game for Kieran McKenna’s men during their promotion-winning campaign, the former AFC Wimbledon man would still fire home a blistering four strikes, leaving him with a devastatingly effective scoring frequency of every 72 minutes.

It would all just depend on whether the Tractor Boys would want to keep the dangerous 23-year-old around now they’ve slumped back down to the EFL, but if he is available again, West Brom could seriously boost their promotion efforts by landing their failed January target.

West Brom could finally replace Palmer in swoop for "exceptional" EFL star

West Brom could finally replace Alex Palmer by swooping for this free agent EFL star.

ByDan Emery May 23, 2025

This summer could be make or break for Mikel Arteta in his position as Arsenal manager, needing to make the right additions to catapult his side to Premier League glory.

The Gunners have finished runners-up to Manchester City and Liverpool in each of the last three campaigns, being unable to go all the way and get the job done.

Injuries have certainly prevented such a charge from occurring in 2024/25, but with new signings during the off-season, it could aid the manager in his quest.

It remains unclear how much money the hierarchy will hand the Spaniard during the window to make changes he needs, with an emphasis on strength in depth after the recent fitness struggles in North London.

With a busy transfer window expected at the Emirates, no time has been wasted, leading to moves already being made in the market for new additions to strengthen the side.

The latest on Arsenal’s hunt for new additions this summer

Even though the transfer window is yet to open, Arsenal have already made moves for new attackers, with Viktor Gyokeres the main player on their shortlist.

The Swede has gained huge attention in 2024/25 after scoring 54 goals this campaign, with Sporting CP demanding a fee in the region of £60m to part ways with their talisman this summer.

However, he’s not the only attacker on the Gunners’ radar this window, with Real Madrid’s Brazilian forward Rodrygo on their shortlist, according to Spanish outlet AS.

They claim that Arteta’s side has made an approach to sign the 24-year-old forward, who’s registered 23 combined goals and assists across all competitions this season.

It also states that the LaLiga giants would demand a fee in the region of €100m (£84m) to part ways with the youngster, with Chelsea also keeping a close eye on the situation.

Why Arsenal’s £84m target would be perfect alongside Sesko

Striker Benjamin Sesko is another attacker who’s been strongly linked with a switch to Arsenal this summer, looking to offer a needed focal point to the first-team squad.

The Slovenian, who’s scored 21 times in all competitions this campaign, has already been subject to talks between the Gunners and current employers RB Leipzig, which could see a move develop in the coming days.

Like Rodrygo, he has an £84m valuation on his shoulders, but Arteta’s side could land him at a cheaper price if they enter negotiations with the Bundesliga outfit.

His goal tally from this campaign is evidence that he can provide the goods within the final third, potentially striking up a deadly partnership with the Brazilian in attacking areas.

The Real Madrid star has the quality with the ball at his feet to provide any fellow attacker the goods to improve their own respective tallies, which could catapult Arsenal to the top of the tree next time around.

Rodrygo, who’s been labelled “world-class” by analyst Ben Mattinson, has completed 2.3 successful dribbles per 90 this season, along with a 52% success rate – showcasing the threat he carries.

However, he often has the end product too, completing 1.2 crosses per 90 and creating 2.3 chances created, handing Sesko the platform to explode in North London.

Games played

30

Goals & assists

11

Successful dribbles

2.3

Dribble success rate

52%

Crosses completed

1.2

Chances created

2.3

Shots taken

2.5

Touches in opposition box

6.5

He’s also registered 2.5 shots per 90, averaging 6.5 touches in the opposition box per 90 – offering a constant threat to the backline, which could see him partner the Slovenian and link up given his hold-up play.

Whilst both would set the hierarchy back a fair whack of money, their respective figures highlight what they could offer to the side, handing Arteta the depth he craves in the final third.

Should they transfer their skill sets over to England, the thought of the pair combining at the Emirates is truly frightening, making them a force to be reckoned with in the Premier League.

More exciting than Zubimendi: Arsenal enter talks to sign £84m "monster"

Arsenal could be about to make a move to land a star who’d massively improve Mikel Arteta’s side.

ByEthan Lamb May 30, 2025

It’s all hands on deck for Liverpool in the summer transfer market, having conducted plenty of business in the early stages of the off-season.

Technically, the transfer market hasn’t yet opened, with the dealings of recent weeks made permissible by the exceptional short-term opening due to the incipient Club World Cup.

And FSG have made fine use of it, banking around £10m for the departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was one month away from free agency but left early due to Real Madrid wanting him to play in the United States this month.

Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong has been signed, his £29.5m release clause activated, while Florian Wirtz is on the brink of joining for a British-record fee, and Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez is at the heart of advancing talks for a summer switch too.

With a new striker on Liverpool’s radar too, it’s all going on down Anfield Road. However, a few more exits are in the works too, with there being a sense that Luis Diaz could wind up at a new club before the end of summer.

Why Liverpool could sell Luis Diaz

Barcelona and Al-Hilal over in the Saudi Pro League have both been linked with moves for Diaz this summer, and The Athletic have reported that the former have even seen an approach rejected.

Diaz is only two years away from the end of his £55k-per-week contract, and FSG would be willing to run the deal down instead of accepting a lowball offer and losing one of Arne Slot’s most important forwards while in the shining prime of his career.

The rumour has it that the Reds would accept bids falling within the £60-70m ballpark, though it remains to be seen whether suitors will pay up.

And if they do, Liverpool would need to find a successor. Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon has been on Anfield’s radar for a number of years, and would be in the thick of the chatter should things start to gather pace on this front.

Would Gordon truly represent an upgrade on the South American star? With a reported £80m price tag, would Liverpool be getting bang for their buck? It may well be that cashing in would be a mistake, but not as big a blunder as if FSG allowed another of Liverpool’s linked-away stars to leave.

Another Liverpool star wanted abroad

According to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, Bayer Leverkusen have made contact with Liverpool to discuss the transfer of centre-back Jarell Quansah, understood to be on a separate line to that of Wirtz.

Newcastle have also expressed an interest in the defender this year.

Quansah’s future has been up for debate across recent months, with reporter David Lynch claiming he was a “genuine candidate for departure” back in May, after a frustrating year.

Valued at £50m, Liverpool would bank a healthy sum for their homegrown talent, but in spite of his struggles, it might be a grave mistake to let him venture off for a new challenge.

Why Liverpool mustn't sell Jarell Quansah

Quansash thrived when stepping up for Jurgen Klopp during the 2023/24 season, playing a crucial part for his team following Joel Matip’s career-ending injury.

However, he’s found life under Slot tough, withdrawn at half-time on the Dutch coach’s debut against Ipswich Town last August, his boss revealing post-match that he made the switch due to frustrations over Liverpool’s lack of success in the duel.

Still, the 22-year-old, who featured 25 times across all competitions last year, played a bigger part over the latter half of the campaign after struggling for purchase across the opening months.

Indeed, Quansah will be frustrated with his season, but there was still enough quality that shone through, suggesting Liverpool may yet see the “absolute monster” who was so indomitable in his emergence the year before, as was said by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Quansah might have trudged his way through a difficult 2024/25 campaign, but we wanted to draw your attention to his stunning breakout campaign under Klopp’s wing.

When collating the English talent’s data from 2023/24 against that of Dean Huijsen, who Liverpool had such a vested interest in before his transfer to Real Madrid, you begin to see why selling him would be such a big mistake.

Goals + assists

0.15

0.19

Touches

97.11

74.94

Pass completion

88.6%

83.4%

Passes attempted

88.64

60.26

Progressive passes

5.07

4.89

Progressive carries

0.98

1.52

Shot-creating actions

0.98

1.59

Ball recoveries

5.45

3.89

Tackles + interceptions

3.18

3.23

Clearances

2.95

7.34

Blocks

1.21

1.48

Aeriel duels won

3.40

2.52

As you can see, Huijsen might be rather good but Quansah has already proven himself capable of matching his qualities across the ball-playing department.

Furthermore, Real Madrid’s new recruit won 56% of his contested duels across his breakout Premier League season, whereas Quansah came out on top 67% of the time, illustrating his above-average usage of his physicality, of his defensive ability (metrics supplied via Sofascore).

And though we haven’t seen the same Quansah since Slot took the helm, there’s no question a high-level player remains in there, latent, waiting.

Losing Diaz would be a big blow, but given that he’s 28 and could command a huge figure, Liverpool would endure, not least because his contract is winding down.

However, Quansah is a homegrown talent, as Trent was, and he proved his ability to throw down with a sought-after star like Huijsen in the opening stage of his top-flight career.

Sure, several months ago, one data analyst said: “He never plays, and when he has this season, he’s not been good.”

That might be partially true, but we’ve got to remember it was only two years ago that Quansah had wrapped up a loan spell at Bristol Rovers in League One.

He’s an immense talent, and Liverpool might just come to regret parting with one of their own when in the fledgling phase of his promising career.

Just imagine him & Wirtz: Liverpool eyeing "the best striker in the world"

Liverpool have agreed a deal for Florian Wirtz and will now turn toward the front of the ship.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Jun 11, 2025

Chelsea have plenty of work to get on with as the window kicks off in earnest and have now put a bid in for a talented defender despite preparing for the Club World Cup, according to a report.

Chelsea prepare for Club World Cup opener

Despite the Premier League campaign only ending a matter of weeks ago, Chelsea are in action on Monday against Los Angeles FC as they look to claim the Club World Cup title this summer.

Making a swift start on the market, the Blues have brought in Liam Delap, Dario Essugo, Estevao, Mamadou Sarr and Kendry Paez, and they are unlikely to stop there in another few months of upheaval at Stamford Bridge.

Assessing Enzo Maresca’s sizeable rebuild in West London, Claude Makelele believes Chelsea are on the right track as they aim to close the gap between themselves and some of their Premier League rivals.

Hugo Ekitike has been tipped to follow Liam Delap to Chelsea by Florian Plettenberg, albeit Liverpool also have designs on the forward amid his progress at Eintracht Frankfurt.

BlueCo have struck gold on Chelsea star who's worth way more than Gittens

Chelsea have hit the jackpot on a player they signed in 2023.

ByRoss Kilvington Jun 15, 2025

Stuttgart’s Nick Woltemade is also in the frame to add competition through the middle, signifying that Maresca would have some pretty exciting competition to pick from between either of the pair, Delap, and Nicolas Jackson.

On the contrary, reports suggest that Chelsea have now turned their attention to a defender who they have reportedly put a bid in for and received a reply, per recent developments.

Chelsea receive reply to Mario Gila bid

According to Il Messaggero, Chelsea have seen a £29.8m bid turned down for Lazio defender Mario Gila, with Bournemouth seeing an offer of their own turfed out for the ex-Spain Under-21 international.

Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur are also in the race for his signature, though the Serie A giants are said to be holding out for £42.5 million before considering a sale.

Five similar players to Mario Gil (FBRef)

Levi Colwill

Chelsea

Jan Paul van Hecke

Brighton & Hove Albion

Benjamin Pavard

Inter Milan

Strahinja Pavlovic

Milan

Anthony Rouault

Rennes

He has won over the likes of Maurizio Sarri in the past, and it is easy to see why given the Barcelona-born defender scored twice in 43 appearances for Lazio across the campaign gone.

Maintaining an element of dominance, Gila won 37 tackles and 67 aerial duels on Serie A duty, lending credence to why Chelsea have identified him as the man to shore up their backline.

With two years left on his contract, it remains to be seen whether Lazio retain their star man or risk losing him for less money as his market value begins to dwindle.

It will be fascinating to see the future of Marcus Rashford this summer, but it does not seem like he will return to Aston Villa.

The Manchester United forward enjoyed a successful loan spell at Villa Park in the second half of last season, but a return to the club on a permanent deal seems unlikely.

In mid-May, BBC Sport reported that the winger thinks his boyhood club ‘would be prepared to sell him for £40m to anyone this summer’. Reading between the lines, you certainly get the impression that a permanent deal at Villa Park is off the table for Rashford.

If he does end up going elsewhere, the Villans will need a replacement for the electric England international.

Aston Villa eyeing up Rashford alternative

Replacing a player with the impact and star quality of Rashford will not be easy for Monchi and Co this summer, especially with potential PSR restrictions looming over them.

Transfer Focus

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

However, it seems as though manager Unai Emery has identified his ideal target.

According to a report from journalist Graeme Bailey, the West Midlands club are ‘keeping very close tabs’ on Barcelona attacker Ferran Torres.

He is a player who ‘has been on the radar of several Premier League clubs’ since leaving Manchester City, with ‘Villa seriously interested’ in adding him to their squad.

This is a move driven by manager Emery. It appears that the Villa boss would ‘absolutely love’ for his side to sign the Spain international this summer.

As for a fee, it was reported by a Spanish news outlet in May that he could cost around the £42m mark for any potential transfer to happen.

How Ferran Torres compares to Rashford

If Torres were to make the move to Villa Park this summer, he would add instant quality to their attack and bring Premier League experience, too. Of course, since leaving Man City, he has represented Barcelona, where, last season, he impressed.

Breaking into a Barca front three that contains Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, and, of course, Lamine Yamal, is not easy. Yet, Torres still showed his quality last season, with 19 goals and seven assists in 45 appearances.

In La Liga, he played 27 times, scoring ten times and grabbing six assists. However, perhaps the most notable game of the 2024/25 season from the Spaniard came against his former side, Valencia, in the Copa del Rey. Torres scored a hat-trick in a 5-0 rout at the Estadio Mestalla.

It certainly would not be easy to step in for Rashford if the Spaniard moved to Villa. The 27-year-old only played 17 games for the club, but had an incredible impact in such a short amount of time.

The boyhood Man United star played 940 minutes, the equivalent of 10.4 full 90-minute games. He scored four goals and registered six assists in that time, leaving him with a goal-to-game ratio of 0.96.

Stepping into Rashford’s boots will certainly be a challenge for Torres. However, he already had a taste of the Premier League with Man City. In 28 English top-flight games, he scored nine goals and grabbed three assists.

Many Villa fans will surely be hoping the Spain international is essentially the second coming of Rashford, and the stats on FBref are there to back that up. The pair are statistically similar to each other over the past 365 days.

There are some noticeable stats which best showcase the similarities between the pair. For example, Torres last season averaged 3.09 shot-creating actions each game compared to Rashford’s 3.55 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes.

Goals per shot on target

0.45

0.36

Key passes

1.54

1.77

Progressive passes

2.85

2.15

Shot-creating actions

3.09

3.55

Goal-creating actions

0.57

0.25

Take-ons completed

0.89

1.14

Stats like that show just how involved in the attack Torres is, which can certainly be said for Rashford, too. In that sense, and the fact that he maintains a similar creative output to the Englishman, suggests he would be a fantastic replacement. He is, as football scout Antonio Mango said, a “special” player.

For around £42m, Torres could be a bargain for the Villa Park side. He is, in many ways, the second coming of Rashford, and should seamlessly be able to step into his shoes. Emery wants to sign him, and the price is fair. This seems like a brilliant deal for Villa.

The next Rogers: Aston Villa pushing hard to sign "explosive" £30m star

Aston Villa could be about to win their next Morgan Rogers if they’re successful in their advances for this rising star.

1 ByKelan Sarson Jun 24, 2025

Manchester United has been the home to countless attacking talents over recent years, with the fanbase undoubtedly wishing they currently had some of their former talents in the present day.

Wayne Rooney still holds the club record for the most goals scored for the Red Devils, registering a staggering 253 goals in his 559 appearances – subsequently overtaking Sir Bobby Charlton’s record.

The likes of Eric Cantona, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ruud van Nistelrooy have all made a name for themselves at Old Trafford, with all the players undoubtedly capturing the hearts of the fanbase.

Current boss Ruben Amorim must wish he could rely upon just one of the aforementioned talents to help him in his quest to be a success during his time in charge of the club.

However, that could be about to change this summer, with the hierarchy looking to back the 40-year-old in the transfer market during the off-season.

The latest on United’s hunt for a new striker this summer

A striker has been high up on Amorim’s shopping list in recent weeks, unsurprisingly so, given the club’s terrible record of just 44 goals in their 38 Premier League matches last campaign.

The likes of Dušan Vlahović, Viktor Gyokeres and Victor Osimhen have all been touted with a move to Old Trafford, but no deals have yet been agreed for any of their signatures.

However, it appears as though that could be about to change, with Aston Villa talisman Ollie Watkins emerging as a key target for Amorim, according to CaughtOffside.

Their report claims that the 29-year-old is seen as a Premier League-proven option for the Red Devils, even making an approach for his services over the last couple of days.

It also states that the hierarchy would be willing to match his current £60m asking price, allowing the England international to follow in the footsteps of one other star at the Theatre of Dreams.

Why United’s £60m target would be Amorim’s own Van Persie

Striker Robin van Persie is a player who managed to hugely impress during his time at United, leading the club to their last league triumph back in the 2012/13 campaign.

He joined the Red Devils in a £24m deal from fellow English side Arsenal, a deal that was seen as a controversial one at the time, especially from the Gunners’ point of view.

The Dutchman was entering the back end of his career upon his move, joining the club at the age of 29, but it didn’t prevent him from starring at Old Trafford.

He managed to score 58 times in his 105 appearances over a three-year period, leading the side to title glory, something which Amorim will be hoping to replicate in the near future.

If he is to achieve such a goal, he could certainly improve his chances with a move for Watkins, with the Villa star following in Van Persie’s footsteps in the North West.

He would join the club at the same age as the Dutchman, also making an immediate impact, rather than being signed as one for the future in the club’s quest for glory.

Watkins would also be handed the responsibility of providing the goods in the final third, just like Van Persie was over a decade ago, also having the tools to offer the clinical edge the Red Devils have lacked.

Games played

38

Goals & assists

24

Pass accuracy

75%

Shots on target per 90

1.4

Chances created

1.1

Aerials won

1.8

Shots taken

2.9

The Englishman, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by Statman Dave, registered 17 goals in all competitions last season, averaging 1.4 shots on target per 90 – highlighting the clinical edge he possesses.

He’s also showcased his all-round talent, completing 75% of the passes he’s attempted, creating 1.1 chances per 90, handing other forwards around him the chance to improve the situation should he move to Old Trafford.

Watkins’ tally of 1.8 aerials won showcases his ability to hold the ball up in forward areas, offering Amorim’s side that needed focal point that they have lacked in recent months.

£60m may appear to be a mammoth figure for a 29-year-old star, but he’s consistently demonstrated that he’s capable of thriving in England’s top-flight.

If he can make the immediate impact Van Persie did during his time in Manchester, it would be a phenomenal signing and one that can push Amorim’s side back in the right direction.

Better than Watkins: Wilcox in talks to sign "monster" £64m CF for Man Utd

Manchester United could be about to end their hunt for a new striker this summer.

ByEthan Lamb Jul 3, 2025

Burnley are now interested in bringing another England international to the club alongside Kyle Walker this summer, according to a new transfer report.

The Clarets knew that some statement signings would be required ahead of their return to the Premier League next month, and they duly delivered, completing the signing of Walker from Manchester City. The 35-year-old has enjoyed a stunning career, winning six league titles at the Etihad and also clinching Champions League glory, and he has spoken of his happiness at sealing a move to Burnley.

Burnley supporters will be hoping to see some more stellar names arrive at Turf Moor before the end of the summer transfer window, and it looks as though they are pushing to sign a player that Walker knows well.

Burnley now keen on signing another England man

According to a fresh claim from Haber Turk [via Sport Witness], Burnley are in the race to sign Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from Besiktas this summer.

The 31-year-old wants to terminate his current deal in Turkey, instead preferring to seal a return to the Premier League, with Leicester City also keen on snapping him up. He has one year remaining on his contract.

Oxlade-Chamberlain isn’t quite the force he was during his younger years, with a serious ACL injury at Liverpool in 2018 cutting him down in his prime, but he could still be an excellent signing for Burnley ahead of the 2025/26 season.

The former Reds man is a hugely experienced figure for club and country, winning the Premier League title back in 2019/20 and scoring seven goals in 35 caps for England, with Jurgen Klopp showing his appreciation for him during their time together at Anfield.

“When I heard Ox had signed his new contract with us, I am sure my emotions were the same as every Liverpool fan hearing the news tonight – absolutely delighted. This is because an absolutely outstanding player and person has shown his belief and commitment to our project here and it’s a deal I think makes sense on both sides.”

Oxlade-Chamberlain can bring a goal threat from attacking midfield areas – he can also do a job out wide – and the fact that he is hungry for a return to England means Burnley would be signing a player with a point to prove. It feels like a no-brainer for Scott Parker if he can make it happen.

The latter stage of Arsenal’s transfer window is likely to throw up many twists and turns yet, with Mikel Arteta sending a clear message to the board ahead of their pre-season clash with AC Milan in Asia.

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Arteta, in his first press conference since returning from Arsenal’s summer break, was adamant that his side still need to reinforce the squad with more depth and quality, as the Spaniard attempts to end their two-decade-long wait for a Premier League title.

“It’s like shaking the tree again,” said Arteta about Arsenal’s new signings, with Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard all included in the squad for their trip to Singapore.

“Bringing new faces, they bring new excitement, new energy as well. We signed very important players as well. I think everybody feels that the heights have to go to different level, and it’s what we are seeking.”

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

25/26 – summer

£140m

Sporting CP’s striker Viktor Gyokeres is a top target for the Gunners, and a deal has now been given Fabrizio Romano’s famous ‘here we go’ tagline, with the striker set to sign a five-year deal at the Emirates.

After Gyokeres, Arsenal will prioritise the signing of a central attacking midfielder (Ben Jacobs), and there are still suggestions that sporting director Andrea Berta could add another high-profile winger after Madueke.

TalkSPORT reported recently that Arsenal maintain an interest in Real Madrid star Rodrygo, following their talks over signing the Brazil international earlier this window, which proved “very complicated” at the time, according to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg.

Now, Fabrizio Romano has shared an update on the 24-year-old’s uncertain future under Xabi Alonso.

Rodrygo set to decide Real Madrid future after early summer Arsenal talks

Writing in his GiveMeSport newsletter, Romano claims that Rodrygo is set for talks with Real Madrid over his career in the coming days, and there is still a possibility that he could choose to depart Los Blancos.

However, his price tag could come in as high as £86 million, so it is unclear whether Arsenal could somehow fit him.

“I’m told, also in this case, it’s still early stages,” said Romano.

“Rodrygo has to speak to Real Madrid again in the next days, decide whether he wants to go or stay, and get a final price, likely to be over €100m (£86m) at the start of talks. It’s not an advanced deal now.”

The former Santos starlet bagged 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions for Real last season, and his creativity would be a very useful asset for Arteta up against teams in the low block, which they struggled to deal with a lot last season.

AC Milan midfielder and Whites legend Luka Modrić has also already branded Rodrygo a “world-class superstar”.