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Manchester United could be set for a huge season under Ruben Amorim next season, that’s if the additions he’s made to the squad make the desired impact.

Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo are two senior additions made to the Red Devils squad, costing a staggering £130m – showcasing the ambition from the hierarchy.

Benjamin Sesko could be the next player to move to Old Trafford, after the club made a £74m bid for the RB Leipzig forward, with the player himself wanting a move to join Amorim’s side over Newcastle United.

Such additions will likely provide a huge upgrade on the options who were at the club throughout 2024/25, potentially helping them return to their former glory in the Premier League.

Other areas of the pitch will also need strengthening if they are to be successful, with work already being done behind the scenes at the Theatre of Dreams.

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

Douglas Luiz has reappeared on United’s radar in recent weeks, after originally being touted with a move to join the club in the early stages of the summer window.

The Red Devils have already held talks with Juventus over a potential deal to sign the Brazilian international, but the Italian side are demanding a permanent move rather than a loan deal.

However, he’s not the only midfielder still on their radar, with Barcelona star Fermin Lopez a player who’s firmly in their sights, according to one Spanish outlet.

Their report claims that the United hierarchy have made the 22-year-old their top target after completing a deal for Sesko between now and the end of the window.

It also states that the hierarchy are willing to fork out a fee in the region of €70m (£60m) to land the Spaniard, who made 46 appearances across all competitions last campaign.

Why United’s latest target would be Amorim’s own Bellingham

Jude Bellingham has been one of Europe’s leading talents over recent years, making huge strides in his career as a professional despite still being just 22 years of age.

He started his career at Birmingham City before a move to Borussia Dortmund, which catapulted him to stardom, subsequently making a move to Real Madrid back in the summer of 2023.

However, his career could’ve been completely different, with the Red Devils previously interested in making a move for the Englishman during the early days of his rise.

The youngster even visited the Red Devils training ground ahead of a potential move, but Bellingham chose a move to Dortmund instead – leaving question marks as to what could’ve been for him in Manchester.

Despite missing out on his signature, the hierarchy have the chance to land their own version of the superstar this window, with current target Lopez labelled a similar player to the Englishman by FBref.

The Barça star has even managed to outperform the Madrid gem in numerous key areas in recent times, showcasing how much of an excellent addition he would be to United this summer.

Lopez, who’s been labelled “sensational” by one analyst, averaged a better goal and assist per 90 record, whilst achieving a higher shot on target accuracy rate – subsequently offering a bigger threat within the final.

Games played

28

31

Goals & assists

11

17

Goals & assists per 90

0.79

0.61

Shot-on-target accuracy

37%

36%

Key passes

2.1

1.5

Passes into opposition box

1.4

1.1

Take-ons completed

1.8

1.4

Carries into opposition box

0.9

0.5

Recoveries made

4.8

3.5

He’s also dominated Bellingham in possession, completing more key passes per 90, with more of which going into the final third, handing potential new signing Sesko with the tools he needs to thrive at Old Trafford.

The Spaniard’s talents are further reflected in his tally of take-ons completed and recoveries made, potentially being a perfect box-to-box option in Amorim’s current system.

£60m would be yet another massive statement of intent from the ownership group, as they look to avoid the travesty that occurred across all competitions in the 2024/25 campaign.

If he can move to Old Trafford and replicate his displays in LaLiga, he would be a huge coup and one that could transform into a potential world beater under Amorim’s guidance.

Perfect for Mbeumo & Cunha: Man Utd in talks for another deal after Sesko

Manchester United could be about to make another huge move before the end of the window.

ByEthan Lamb Aug 6, 2025

Leeds United continued their pre-season preparations over the weekend as they held Manchester United to a 0-0 draw in their latest friendly ahead of the Premier League season.

Daniel Farke’s side boasted new signings Jaka Bijol, Sebastiaan Bornauw, Gabriel Gudmundsson, and Sean Longstaff, whilst the Whites are also set for another new face.

As you can see in the post from Graham Smyth above, Hoffenheim central midfielder Anton Stach is closing in on a permanent move to Elland Road from the Bundesliga outfit.

One player who is not going to be a part of the squad for next season, though, is experienced striker Patrick Bamford, who has been told that he is not in Farke’s plans.

The German head coach has confirmed that he has spoken with the English forward to tell him that he will be training with the U21 team until he can find a new club.

It is now down to Leeds and Bamford to find an ideal solution for him before the end of the summer transfer window, with one year remaining on his contract.

Why Patrick Bamford is not in Daniel Farke's plans

Farke explained his thought process behind his decision on the long-serving Whites number nine, saying: “Patrick is a player who needs right now, at this stage, to be the main man right. He needs the backing, the arm around the shoulder, after difficult years to be there was confidence. And then if Patrick gets this he will score goals.

“He will score on each every level because he’s a top player. But after the last two seasons, I was not willing to say come on you are right now our main man on a permanent level.”

This suggests that the decision has been made with both the club’s and Bamford’s best interests at heart, as it will allow the player to go and pursue a move that would see him play regularly, whilst potentially creating space for Leeds to bring in another forward to improve their team.

24/25 (Championship)

17

0

2.11

0

23/24 (Championship)

33

15

9.52

8

22/23 (Premier League)

28

18

8.61

4

21/22 (Premier League)

9

7

N/A

2

20/21 (Premier League)

38

37

N/A

17

As you can see in the table above, the veteran striker is not the same player he was when he took the Premier League by storm under Marcelo Bielsa in the 2020/21 campaign.

His form in the last three seasons does not suggest that he is likely to make enough of an impact at the top level to be a genuine starting-calibre option, which is why it is the right call to allow him to move on.

Leeds plotting bid for new striker

Leeds, who have already signed Lukas Nmecha, are in the market to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch before the summer transfer window slams shut.

Transfer Focus

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

According to journalist Alan Nixon, via his Patreon, the Championship champions remain interested in a deal to sign Fulham centre-forward Rodrigo Muniz.

The reporter claims that the West Yorkshire outfit are hoping to bank some cash from a sale of Mateo Joseph, whom they value at £10m, to fund a new bid to tempt the Cottagers into cashing in on the Brazilian striker.

He states that Celta Vigo, who have money to spend after selling Fer Lopez to Wolves, and Real Betis are both eyeing up a potential swoop for Joseph this summer.

Muniz has reportedly been valued at £50m by Fulham, though, and it remains to be seen how much Leeds will be able to spend on him, even if they bank £10m for the Spanish youngster.

Why Muniz would be a huge upgrade on Bamford

Bamford being moved on because Farke cannot guarantee that he will be the main man in the Premier League makes even more sense when you consider the club’s ongoing pursuit of Muniz.

The Brazilian centre-forward would arrive at Elland Road as a huge upgrade on the former Chelsea and Middlesbrough man, as a star who has showcased his quality in the Premier League in the last two seasons.

As you can see in the graphic above, Muniz is already an experienced forward in the top-flight, with 17 goals to his name for the Cottagers to date.

The 24-year-old marksman, who was hailed as “seriously impressive” by analyst Ben Mattinson, has performed even better at Premier League level than Bamford has in the Championship in the last two seasons, hence why he would be a huge upgrade for Leeds in the number nine position.

Appearances

57

50

Starts

26

15

xG

14.43

11.63

Goals

17

8

Big chances created

3

1

Assists

2

1

As you can see in the table above, Muniz has scored nine more goals and provided one more assist than the Whites attacker in the last two years, whilst playing at a higher level.

These statistics show that the Brazilian striker is an efficient and clinical centre-forward who can make the most of the chances that are created for him, outperforming his xG by more than two goals.

Whereas Bamford’s finishing let the team down far too often, underperforming his xG by almost four goals in the Championship in that time, which suggests that he may have been a liability in front of goal in the Premier League next season.

This further explains why Farke’s decision to leave the striker out of his squad for the 2025/26 campaign makes a lot of sense, as the club are looking to bring in a forward who would be a huge upgrade on him in the top-flight.

Farke's own Joelinton: Leeds made contact over deal to sign £22m "monster"

Leeds United have made contact over a potential deal for a star who could be their own Joelinton.

ByDan Emery Jul 19, 2025

However, it is now down to Leeds to find Bamford a new club and to secure a deal with Fulham to bring Muniz to West Yorkshire before the end of the window.

Glasgow Rangers welcome Panathinaikos to Ibrox this evening in the first leg of their second round Champions League qualifier, and one player who will not be involved in Ridvan Yilmaz.

The Turkey international was left out of the squad for the match, with Jefte and Max Aarons preferred in the full-back department, and it remains to be seen if his future is in Scotland.

It was recently reported that the left-back has agreed to return to Besiktas this summer, but it is now down to the clubs to thrash out a deal for the defender.

Yilmaz only started 11 matches in the Scottish Premiership during the 2024/25 campaign and may be looking at a return to his home country to play week-in-week-out.

Rangers in talks to sign new left-back

The Light Blues should sanction an exit for the 24-year-old flop this summer because they are currently pursuing a deal for a player who would be a big upgrade for Russell Martin.

Transfer Focus

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

According to DaveOCKOP, Rangers are in talks over a deal to sign Liverpool left-back Owen Beck to bolster their options at the back for the 2025/26 campaign.

The report claims that the two clubs are locked in negotiations but the Light Blues are progressing in their pursuit of a swoop for the Welsh full-back.

It adds that the Premier League champions are currently holding out for a fee of £10m for their academy graduate, whilst the Gers would like to pay around £7m for him.

However, John Percy has since claimed that Derby County have agreed a deal to sign the defender on loan, which means that the Light Blues will need to step up their pursuit immediately to hijack a move.

Why Rangers should sign Owen Beck

Martin should push for the club to reach an agreement with Liverpool in these talks because he is a proven Scottish Premiership performer who would come in as a big upgrade on Yilmaz this season.

The 22-year-old star, who was once described as a “spectacular” player by talent scout Jacek Kulig, spent last season on loan at Blackburn Rovers, playing 24 times in the Championship, but previously shone on loan at Dundee.

Beck played 25 matches in the Premiership whilst on loan at Dundee in the 2023/24 campaign and caught the eye with his impressive displays at left-back, earning a place in the Team of the Year.

Appearances

25

17

Big chances created

6

4

Assists

4

2

Key passes per game

2.3

1.2

Tackles + interceptions per game

3.9

1.8

Ground duel success rate

57%

60%

Dribble success rate

60%

0%

As you can see in the table above, the Liverpool loanee provided quality as both an offensive and defensive force down the left flank that season, as he created goals and prevented them by making tackles and interceptions.

These statistics suggest that the left-footed star has the potential to be a big upgrade on Yilmaz for Rangers, as he could provide more quality as a creator at the top end of the pitch whilst also offering a more well-rounded defensive presence, thanks to his strength in duels on the ground and in the air.

Given that his performances came in the Premiership, as well, the Light Blues would be signing him with almost a guarantee of quality, as Beck has been there and done it at that level.

As dispensable as Nsiala: Teams have major interest in Rangers flop

There are teams eyeing up moves for this flop and Clinton Nsiala from Rangers this summer.

ByDan Emery Jul 21, 2025

This is why the Light Blues should be pushing to sign the ace who was once considered the best left-back in Scotland, because he would improve the team and allow the club to send Yilmaz back to Besiktas, should an acceptable offer come in.

Everton are now believed to have made an approach to complete the signing of a “world class” player who knows the Premier League well but has fallen out of favour at his current club.

A host of players continue to be mentioned as options for the Blues in the summer transfer window, including Sheffield United goalkeeper Michael Cooper. The 25-year-old Englishman started all 46 of the Blades’ Championship matches last season, helping them reach the playoff final, but defeat to Sunderland at Wembley ruined their chances of promotion, and he may like the idea of heading to the top flight.

Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi is another player who could want to remain in the Premier League, following his side’s relegation to the second tier, and Everton have been backed to snap him up, amid their search for more quality in the middle of the park.

Meanwhile, Millwall forward Mihailo Ivanovic is another reported target for the Merseysiders, with the Serb potentially seen as a strong replacement for Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Just 20 years of age, he scored an impressive 12 goals in 23 Championship starts last term and could serve as the old fashioned number nine alongside the more elusive Thierno Barry.

Everton make approach for "world class" midfielder

According to La Gazzetta Dello Sport [via Goodison News], Everton have made an approach for Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz, seeing him as an excellent choice to bring in this summer. The Blues are said to have asked for information regarding the 27-year-old, but it is added that no offer has been tabled for him yet.

He joined Juventus for around £42m last summer but was once worth a much higher figure, with Neil Moxley even claiming “somebody’s just having a bit of a laugh” when he was quoted at £60m while thriving at Aston Villa, pointing to Declan Rice’s £105m move to Arsenal as a benchmark.

Indeed, albeit out of form and out of favour in Turin last season, Luiz is a player who has proven his worth at the highest level for many years now, having been such an influential performer for Villa, so he could be a brilliant signing for Everton.

The Brazilian has 175 appearances to his name in the Premier League, as well as 20 goals and 18 assists, with John McGinn heaping praise on his ability, describing him as “world class”, and Jermaine Pennant calling him better than Rice in the past.

“Any team would dream to have Rice, but there are better sixes in the Premier League at the moment. I would say Douglas Luiz of Aston Villa, I think he can do everything that Rice can do and better. I think he assists more, he chips in with goals more than Rice. Creativity-wise he’s better, flair is better, he can put in a tackle just like Rice, break up play just like Rice. So I think if someone said to me you can have Douglas Luiz for £60m or Declan Rice for £100m, easy every day of the week, Douglas Luiz.”

Everton now ready to pay £5m+ to sign new star with same agent as McNeil

The Toffees are ready to take advantage…

1 BySean Markus Clifford Jul 7, 2025

Luiz is still in his prime, so this wouldn’t be a case of Everton splashing out on a player who has peaked, and his box-to-box style could be a great asset for David Moyes.

There is a lot for Arsenal to do this summer.

For the third time in a row, Mikel Arteta’s side ended this season as Premier League runners-up, and as things stand, their rivals for next year are making some impressive moves in the transfer market.

However, while the Gunners are yet to announce a signing, that doesn’t mean they aren’t working towards a few, with Martin Zubimendi’s move to the club now looking like a matter of when and not if.

The Spanish international could be a needle mover for the North Londoners, but if recent reports are to be believed, the club are now looking to advance towards another international who could be utterly game-changing.

Arsenal plot move for international superstar

It would be fair to say that the journey to sign Zubimendi has been a long and somewhat stressful one for Arsenal – one that is still not quite complete.

Transfer Focus

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

The first serious reports that the club were making serious progress in securing his services came out in January, courtesy of Sami Mokbel, but in the months that followed, there have been more than a few stories from Spain suggesting that Real Madrid was going to hijack the move.

Fortunately, reports in the last few days, notably from Fabrizio Romano, have revealed that the paperwork is now done and that fans can expect an official announcement soon.

However, while the Real Sociedad will surely help improve the balance of the North Londoners’ midfield, the club now appear to be moving towards an even better signing: Viktor Gyokeres.

At least that’s according to a recent report from Portuguese outlet A Bola, which claims that Arsenal have reignited their intense interest in the Sporting CP star.

In fact, the report has revealed that the Gunners are planning to make another offer for the free-scoring forward, which, according to other stories from earlier this week, could be up to 80m, which comes out to around £68m.

Furthermore, according to a recent update from Sky Sports reporter Gianluca Di Marzio, the North Londoners “will sign” the former Coventry man this summer, as he “was their first target from the start.”

It would undoubtedly represent a mammoth investment from Arsenal, but given Gyokeres’ out-of-this-world ability in front of goal, it would be worth it, and he would be a better signing than Zubimendi.

Why Gyokeres would be a better signing than Zubimendi

Firstly, as we’ve already mentioned, fans should be excited about the seemingly imminent arrival of Zubimendi this summer, as the Sociedad star has proven himself to be a defensively solid and inventive creative six at both club and international level over the last couple of years.

However, if we are talking about who could have the more significant and immediate impact on Arsenal’s title chances in the Premier League and Champions League next season and, therefore, be the better signing this summer, we think it’s impossible to look past Gyokeres.

We say this for one massive and simply impossible to ignore reason: his output.

Since moving to Sporting in the summer of 2023, the Stockholm-born phenomenon has been a seemingly unstoppable goalscoring “powerhouse,” as dubbed by respected analyst Ben Mattinson.

For example, in his first campaign with the Lisbon outfit, he racked up a ridiculous tally of 43 goals and 15 assists in 50 appearances, totalling 4169 minutes.

Appearances

50

52

Minutes

4169′

4248′

Goals

43

54

Assists

15

13

Goal Involvements per Match

1.16

1.28

Minutes per Goal Involvement

71.87′

63.40′

This means the former Coventry City star maintained an average of 1.16 goal involvements every game or one every 71.87 minutes, and somehow, he did even better this season.

In 52 appearances, totalling 4248 minutes, the goalscoring “monster,” as dubbed by one analyst, found the back of the net on 54 occasions and provided 13 assists for good measure, which comes out to an average of 1.28 goal involvements per game, or one every 63.40 minutes.

Just imagine a centre-forward as outrageously clinical as the 27-year-old leading the line for the Gunners, with Bukayo Saka to his right, Martin Odegaard behind him and potentially a new winger to the left.

Even if he was only able to replicate a third of his output in North London, the Swede could be the difference between a fourth runners-up finish on the spin or finally getting over the line.

Therefore, while Zubimenidi will be a great signing, Gyokeres has the potential to be far better for Arsenal.

The new Saliba: Arsenal schedule talks to sign "exceptional" £43m star

The incredible youngster could turn into something truly special at Arsenal.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 25, 2025

Leeds United appear to be falling away in the race to sign Senegal international Habib Diarra from Strasbourg during the summer transfer window.

Journalist Ben Jacobs reports that a move to Elland Road for the central midfielder is “unlikely” because of issues in negotiations over personal terms with the player.

Jacobs, as seen in the post above, adds that the Championship champions did put a bid in for him last week, which shows that the Whites are in the market to sign a new central midfielder for Daniel Farke this summer.

However, that new midfield signing does not look set to be Diarra, given this latest update. That means that Leeds will have to look elsewhere in that position, and that is exactly what they are doing.

Leeds eyeing move for Diarra alternative

With a move for the Strasbourg midfielder on the rocks, the 49ers are now targeting an alternative option to bolster the team in that area of the pitch.

Transfer Focus

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

According to Leeds United News, the Whites have looked at a potential deal to sign Raphael Onyedika from Belgian side Club Brugge this summer.

Reporter Graeme Bailey told Leeds United News: “I’ve been told one name who West Ham like is Onyedika at Club Brugge. Leeds have looked at him as well. They want that type of player, that physicality.

“He’s a very good player and it wouldn’t surprise me either. He’s a threat, West Ham are looking at him as a replacement for Soucek. But he’s one player Leeds are looking at, and Leeds have got loads of options.”

The outlet quotes a price tag of around £26m, £25.6m to be precise, for the 24-year-old talent, but it remains to be seen whether West Ham or Leeds would be willing to pay that much for him.

Why Leeds should sign Raphael Onyedika

The Whites should push to beat the Hammers to his signature before the end of the summer transfer window because he would be an even better signing than Diarra.

Leeds will be battling to avoid relegation from the Premier League next season, given that the last six teams to come up from the Championship have come straight back down, and this means that they should be targeting players who can win duels and compete defensively in tight games.

This is why Onyedika would be a better signing in midfield for what the Whites need in the middle of the park, because he is a combative midfielder who can make tackles and win duels regularly.

Tackles won

26

13

Duels won

120

99

Duel success rate

49%

48%

Interceptions

22

13

Ball recoveries

153

90

Blocks

10

7

Aerial duel success rate

53%

43%

As you can see in the table above, the Nigeria international significantly outperformed Diarra at league level during the 2024/25 campaign when it came to their respective work out of possession.

These statistics suggest that Onyedika is far more effective defensively than the Strasbourg star, as he makes tackles, blocks, recoveries, and interceptions far more frequently than the Senegalese ace does.

This is why the 24-year-old star, who played 51 times in all competitions for Club Brugge this season, would be far more suited to playing in a team that is set to battle against the drop next term.

Therefore, Leeds should push ahead with a deal to sign Onyedika after their move for Diarra stalled, as he could be even better than the Ligue 1 gem due to his excellent defensive attributes.

Big Aaronson upgrade: Leeds close to agreeing deal for £30m "magician"

Leeds are confident that they will sign this star, and he would be a big upgrade on Brenden Aaronson.

1 ByDan Emery Jun 17, 2025

Rangers have made contact to sign a £20,000-a-week player who has been likened to full-back Jefte, according to a Sky Sports reporter.

Rangers window ramps up as Cameron unveiled as first signing

Russell Martin is currently preparing for his first Scottish Premiership season in charge at Ibrox, with players set to report back for pre-season on Monday ahead of an early Champions League qualifier in July.

However, in the transfer market, the 49ers are looking to back their new manager with additions in the window. One move that was agreed before Martin arrived and the 49ers officially took over was a pre-contract agreement for Lyall Cameron, with the midfielder joining Rangers from Dundee.

Cameron was unveiled as a new Rangers player on Tuesday after a stellar 2024/25 campaign which saw him score 14 goals and provide nine assists. Speaking on his recent performances, Cameron said:

Rangers close in on signing "great athlete" who could be Ryan Kent 2.0

Rangers have had many excellent loan players throughout the years, Ryan Kent springs to mind, and they’ve reached an agreement to bring in another.

ByBen Gray Jun 18, 2025

Alongside the midfielder, there have also been strong links to AFC Bournemouth right-back Max Aarons, with claims even suggesting a verbal agreement was done and a loan move was close for the Englishman.

However, there has been a new update on a move for the full-back who has been likened to Jefte.

Rangers in contact to sign Aarons as Bournemouth stance shared

Sky Sports reporter Mark McAdam provided an update on Rangers’ attempts to sign Aarons on Tuesday.

He stated that contact has been made by Rangers for the 25-year-old, however, while the Gers are looking at doing a loan deal for the £20,000-a-week defender, Bournemouth would prefer a permanent transfer.

Aarons appears to be out of favour at the Vitality Stadium under Andoni Iraola but is still under contract on the south coast until 2029. Therefore, a move could be complicated as the Cherries are looking to recoup as much of the £7m they paid for Aarons, whereas Rangers want him on a temporary basis.

Milan van Ewijk

Coventry City

Jefte

Rangers

Isaac Schmidt

Leeds United

Jordi Alba

Inter Miami

Alistair Johnston

Celtic

One way the clubs could get around negotiations could be to include an option or obligation to buy Aarons next summer, but at this moment in time, a deal doesn’t appear to be as advanced as previously suggested.

Liverpool won the Premier League this season but already FSG are planning for the future. Arne Slot came and conquered English football when none beyond Merseyside’s red reach thought he had the capacity, and he did it with minimal transfer investment.

Now, though, is the time for action. This is the squad Jurgen Klopp build over so many years, carefully created and layered to now stand among Europe’s elite.

That’s not to say Slot has ridden the coattails of his predecessor, who failed to add to his one Premier League triumph across each of the previous four campaigns.

The Dutch coach has taken the tools handed to him and built something new, but with Trent Alexander-Arnold now officially a Real Madrid player and Liverpool’s fiercest rivals at home and abroad gearing up to strengthen, it was always going to be important to build.

The latest Liverpool transfer targets

Liverpool have acted with consummate efficiency in the build-up to the summer transfer window, already announcing the signing of Jeremie Frimpong as Alexander-Arnold’s direct replacement at right-back.

Bayer Leverkusen have lost their electric right-sider, and their star playmaker is set to follow. Florian Wirtz is one of the most talented midfielders on the planet, and FSG have entered the final stages of what should become a club-record €130m (£110m) signing.

Next up, Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez should join the Anfield rebuild, with Kostas Tsimikas mooted for a departure and Andy Robertson, 31, taking a step back, handing the Hungarian Kerkez the keys for the long-term berth.

When all this is wrapped up, you’d think the Reds would turn toward exits, with Darwin Nunez expected to depart and the futures of younger squad members like Harvey Elliott and Jarell Quansah uncertain too.

Such financial gains would lead Liverpool toward a new number nine, but they may not stop there. Extra cover at centre-back has been discussed, and sporting director Richard Hughes may even move for a new centre-midfielder.

Liverpool enter race for new midfielder

Liverpool are well-stocked in the centre of the park, but Ryan Gravenberch’s qualities were exhausted in the deep-lying role across the campaign, and some competition would do nicely.

That’s why – according to GIVEMESPORT – Liverpool are prepared to hijack Manchester United’s potential move for Atalanta’s Ederson, 25, whose performances in Italy have earned praise, leading to a stunning Europa League final victory over Bayer Leverkusen last season.

Though the Brazilian would cost around £50m, this could be a worthwhile investment for a Liverpool side determined to challenge for silverware across a range of various fronts.

Why Liverpool want to sign Ederson

It may not be a priority position this summer, but the beauty of Liverpool completing the lion’s share of their transfer business is that they can turn toward bonus deals, and Ederson would surely be the icing on the cake.

An athletic and robust player, Ederson thrives at the heart of the field, flying in with challenges, recycling possession and driving the ball forwards.

A man of different parts, then. Ederson completed 87% of his passes in Serie A this season, winning 4.9 duels per game at a success rate of 56%, suggesting he has the physical strength and technical crispness to succeed in the Premier League.

As per FBref, Ederson ranks among the top 12% of central midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for progressive passes and the top 19% for ball recoveries and aerial battles won per 90, emphasising a rounded approach that ‘Slotball’ would welcome with open arms.

Ederson’s powerful eye for goal and Brazilian heritage suggest he could become Slot’s own Fabinho, with the iconic Klopp favourite doing the dirty work in the middle of the park for Liverpool, allowing the forwards to flourish and steal the headlines.

Liverpool signed Fabinho from AS Monaco in a deal worth £44m back in May 2018, the Brazil international going on to feature prominently across five campaigns, winning the full gamut.

Fabinho might not have had the flair of, say, Gravenberch, who is more of an elegant, shoulder-dropping maestro of a number six, but his industrious approach to his craft bred rich results for the Anfield side, anchored as he was in the middle, dispossessing opponents and calmly picking out teammates in opportune areas.

Now, it’s time to bring in the next version, one who could give Slot a greater width of possibility to pick from in the centre of the park. Described as a “machine” of a midfielder by journalist Carlo Garganese, Ederson is the real deal, a proven winner in Italy with the physicality and dynamism to make a positive impression with Slot’s champions.

He’s also tuned to the modern way of things, with a broad tactical reach that could see Liverpool’s boss shuffle him across a variety of positions to best serve their goals, maybe even discovering a formula which could see Gravenberch and Ederson playing together on the field.

Central midfield

151

16

6

Defensive midfield

62

5

1

Attacking midfield

20

–

–

Right-back

3

1

–

Centre-back

2

–

–

Left midfield

1

–

–

Given Liverpool fell by the wayside across tournament fronts this season, it might be wise to bring in a different profile to jockey with Gravenberch, who has performed remarkably well and was crowned the Premier League Young Player of the Year; however, sometimes a grittier style is required.

It’s the kind of profile Fabinho utilised so expertly across the span of his Liverpool career. Wataru Endo has been brilliant since arriving as a stop-gap replacement, but becoming a cult hero and a Premier League champion besides, but the 31-year-old doesn’t bear his predecessor’s completeness.

Transfer Focus

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

It’s clear: if Liverpool manage to complete their business this summer and recoup some lost money through the sales of several fringe stars, Ederson is the man to go for, especially if it foils Man United in their pursuit of a much-needed rebuild.

Same agent as Yoro: Man Utd make approach for £15m Premier League defender

He could be an instant upgrade.

1 ByTom Cunningham May 31, 2025

The Premier League is widely regarded as the most physical, intense and demanding league across the continent, so it’s always very impressive to see players performing well into their 30s.

Here, we’ve taken a look at the 10 oldest players in the Premier League, with their age taken from their last appearance. Without further ado, here is the list…

Rank

Player

Club

Age

Lukasz Fabianski

West Ham

Ashley Young

Everton

James Milner

Brighton

Jamie Vardy

Leicester

Jonny Evans

Man Utd

Adam Lallana

Southampton

Fraser Forster

Tottenham

Willian

Fulham

Seamus Coleman

Everton

Martin Dubravka

Newcastle

10 Martin Dubravka (Newcastle) 36 years, 1 month

Martin Dubravka has been in and out of Newcastle United team of late, primarily standing in for Nick Pope whenever the Toon No 1 is out injured.

Indeed, he was called upon over the Christmas period with Pope unavailable, with Newcastle securing a sixth consecutive win with the Slovakian between the sticks on his 36th birthday.

Dubravka’s last appearance came against Man City in February 2025.

9 Seamus Coleman (Everton) 36 years, 7 months

Seamus Coleman has been at Everton for 16 years now, though his season was derailed by injuries throughout.

It meant the Irishman only turned out five times for the Toffees in the 2024/25 Premier League, coming on most recently in the final game at Goodison Park against Southampton on 18th May.

8 Willian (Fulham) 36 years, 9 months, 1 day

Willian made his Premier League debut for Chelsea in October 2013 and has remained in the division ever since, aside from brief stints out at Corinthians and Olympiacos. The tricky winger returned to Fulham in January 2025.

His longevity is admirable, having made 327 appearances in England’s top flight with three different clubs as of the end of the 2024/25 campaign.

#

Player

Goals

1

Roberto Firmino

82

2

Gabriel Jesus

76

3

Richarlison

64

=4

Philippe Coutinho

47

=4

Willian

47

6

Gabriel Martinelli

40

=7

Matheus Cunha

29

=7

Juninho

29

=9

Joao Pedro

22

=9

Joelinton

22

7 Fraser Forster (Tottenham) 36 years, 9 months, 12 days

Fraser Forster was summoned to the Tottenham Hotspur first team when Guglielmo Vicario was struck by injury.

It handed the former Southampton and Celtic shot-stopper a brief run of games in December, though Spurs were only successful on one occasion – on a return to St Mary’s.

Now 37, it remains to be seen whether he will appear for Spurs in the new season, having lost his place in the matchday squad towards the end of the campaign.

6 Adam Lallana (Southampton) 36 years, 9 months, 26 days

Adam Lallana’s Premier League career may well be over following Southampton’s relegation in 2025, which isn’t a huge surprise given he may not be granted another move up the pyramid at 37 years of age.

Looking further ahead, Lallana joined up with the England Under-21s in September 2023 as a coach – perhaps indicating his future plans on the touchline.

Trophy

Year

FIFA Club World Cup

2020

Premier League

2020

UEFA Super Cup

2019

Champions League

2019

Johnstone’s Paint Trophy

2010

5 Jonny Evans (Man Utd) 37 years, 4 months

Eyebrows were raised when Manchester United re-signed free agent Jonny Evans in the summer of 2023, but the veteran certainly proved a few naysayers wrong.

The Northern Irishman called time on his second spell in 2025, ending the campaign as the fifth-oldest player in the league.

He would have to turn out for another top-flight club to climb the rankings, perhaps for a promoted club looking for an experienced head.

Trophy

Year

Community Shield

2009, 2011, 2012, 2021

FA Cup

2021, 2024

Premier League

2009, 2011, 2013

FIFA Club World Cup

2009

League Cup

2009, 2010

Johnstone’s Paint Trophy

2010

Champions League

2008

Championship

2007

4 Jamie Vardy (Leicester) 37 years, 4 months

Jamie Vardy bid a fond farewell to Leicester City this season, but despite the Foxes’ relegation, the 37-year-old backed himself to still do a job in the Premier League.

At the conclusion of the season, it was not clear where the striker was headed, but he certainly flew the flag for the veterans of the division, with only three older players appearing.

3 James Milner (Brighton) 39 years, 4 months

James Milner has amassed a remarkable 638 Premier League appearances – only Gareth Barry (653) has collected more.

The former England international has adapted his game to continue operating at the highest level, particularly at Liverpool, where he became an established left-back.

Now at Brighton, Milner has played at left-back, right-back and central midfield for the Seagulls.

He won Liverpool’s gruelling lactate test every pre-season he was at the club, evincing his astounding fitness levels, which no doubt have played a huge role in his longevity.

#

Player

Goals

1

Gareth Barry

653

2

James Milner

638

3

Ryan Giggs

632

4

Frank Lampard

609

5

David James

572

6

Gary Speed

535

7

Emile Heskey

516

8

Mark Schwarzer

514

9

Jamie Carragher

508

10

Phil Neville

505

2 Ashley Young (Everton) 39 years, 10 months

Ashley Young turns 40 in summer 2025, and has been a superb servant to Everton since his switch in 2023.

The former Manchester United winger has experienced a similar career development to Milner in the sense that he converted to full-back in order to continue playing at the highest level.

Young has continued to rack up appearances despite his advancing age, playing primarily at right-back.

Team

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Manchester United

261

19

33

Aston Villa

247

38

53

Watford

110

22

9

Everton

70

2

4

Inter

59

5

9

1 Lukasz Fabianski (West Ham) 40 years, 1 month

It seems crazy to think that Lukasz Fabianski is now in his 40s, having joined English football as a youngster with Arsenal in 2007.

He will be leaving West Ham United after seven years of service in east London, but not before topping the Premier League charts as the competition’s oldest player in 2024/25.

It’s hardly a badge of honour, but it speaks to the Pole’s enduring qualities that he could still hack it at the top level.

Liverpool will have a commanding presence in the transfer window this summer and could use that leverage to pull off an audacious player-plus-cash deal to land an exciting target, according to a report.

Liverpool look to build on Premier League title triumph

After laying claim to their second title of the Premier League era, the Reds are winding down for the campaign and won’t be too frustrated at surrendering a two-goal advantage in their draw with Arsenal last weekend.

Ultimately, Arne Slot has led his side to the goal they set out to achieve at the start of the season. Now, many are beginning to wonder what happens next once their celebrations are in the memory bank.

That is still a while off yet, though Liverpool are active in their pursuit of summer reinforcements and could look to bring Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong to Anfield. The Netherlands international is someone the club are aware of as far as his situation goes, with a release clause of between £29.5 million and £33.8 million being something they are willing to exploit.

Lyon winger Malick Fofana is also being targeted by Liverpool, potentially becoming a replacement for Luiz Diaz amid the latter attracting interest from Saudi Pro League outfit.

Liverpool’s final Premier League assignments

Brighton & Hove Albion (A)

Amex Stadium

Crystal Palace (H)

Anfield

Darwin Nunez is another that could be moved on to free up funds and space for reinforcements in a period where Slot is expected to be ruthless in his decision-making to mould a squad fit to defend their crown. Realistically, Liverpool have nothing to prove to anyone, but they could potentially surpass their jointly-held record of 20 titles that they share with Manchester United next term with a repeat performance of this season’s excellence.

Making strides to equip themselves to do so, the Reds are now eyeing a swap deal that could see one of Europe’s revered attackers arrive on Merseyside.

Liverpool eye Ademola Lookman and Federico Chiesa swap deal

According to reports in Italy via Sport Witness, Liverpool would be willing to swap Federico Chiesa for Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman to bring the Nigeria international back to the Premier League. Formerly of Everton, Lookman has registered 19 goals and seven assists in 38 appearances across all competitions this season. His current employers are unlikely to make allowances relating to his £50 million+ valuation, so Chiesa could be used to whittle that number down.

Better than Jota: Liverpool make contact to sign "world-class" £85m star

Liverpool have made contact to keep informed on a “world-class” star who is miles better than Diogo Jota.

2 ByDan Emery May 12, 2025

The Liverpool star could now be thrown into a potential swap arrangement after struggling to make an impact following his move from Juventus. Earning £150,000 per week, the Italy international has scored twice and registered two assists in just 13 outings, making him a prime candidate for a summer departure.

That said, it remains to be seen whether a swap would be the preferred option for both clubs or if conducting seperate deals is a more viable alternative to put through the books.