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As he looks to rebuild his side following a campaign to forget, Pep Guardiola now reportedly wants Manchester City to sign a midfield star who put in an almost perfect display against Liverpool.

Man City transfer news

The Citizens have been shock strugglers this season, going from Premier League domination to a side who may well miss out on a top four place in the Premier League this season. There’s been many factors behind their downfall, with injuries playing a large part, but their need for a rebuild cannot be ignored in the face of an ageing squad.

The likes of Kevin de Bruyne are currently approaching the end of their Etihad careers, whilst Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva and perhaps even star shot-stopper Ederson don’t look far behind the Belgian midfielder to commence a major overhaul.

The Premier League already received a preview of what could be to come in the January transfer window when Vitor Reis, Abdukodir Khusanov, Juma Bah and Omar Marmoush arrived. Now, with the summer approaching, the Blues look destined to return to the market in pursuit of further reinforcements.

According to reports in Spain, Guardiola now personally wants Manchester City to sign Joao Neves this summer in what would end their midfield woes once and for all. The 20-year-old only joined Paris Saint-Germain last summer in a deal worth a reported £60m from Benfica, but has emerged onto City’s radar nonetheless as they eye an ambitious move.

Man City want to sign Real Madrid star with both clubs happy on £50m+ fee

Pep Guardiola is a fan.

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By
Charlie Smith

Mar 8, 2025

If those at the Etihad needed any more convincing over Neves’ quality, then his immaculate display against Liverpool in PSG’s last 16 first leg tie should have put any doubts to bed.

Whilst Harvey Elliott’s late dagger handed Liverpool a vital victory, not many will argue that PSG were unfortunate to end a dominant display on the end of defeat in a game which saw Neves put in an untouchable performance.

"Fantastic" Neves would transform Man City

Neves didn’t come flying out the blocks at PSG, as was the case for Luis Enrique’s side as a whole this season but now at his best, the midfielder has been excellent. Against Liverpool, the 20-year-old won over half of his tackles, made four recoveries and won 80% of his ground duels to silence the likes of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai.

Dubbed “fantastic” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, it’s hard to believe that Neves is still just 20 years old and already playing at such an impressive level. Only likely to get even better, the sky is the limit for the PSG star.

The prospect of Neves forming a partnership with Rodri under Guardiola at Manchester City is undeniably a mouth-watering one, but it remains to be seen whether the Citizens will make their move.

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney could still sign Ben Davies for a "modest transfer fee" despite news of his contract extension at Tottenham.

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• Option taken up in defender's deal
• Could still be allowed to leave north London
• Red Dragons after top-flight pedigree

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  That is according to the , who claim that the Wales international is still being targeted by the ambitious outfit in his homeland. Davies was being heavily linked with a move to SToK Racecourse when seemingly heading for free agency.

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  Spurs have triggered a 12-month option in his contract that is due to run until the summer of 2026. That is, however, considered to be no guarantee that Davies will be spending another year in north London.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The Mail says a “modest transfer fee” would be required to do a deal if Tottenham agree to listen to offers for the versatile 32-year-old defender – who would be able to operate as a centre-half or left-back in Phil Parkinson’s plans at Wrexham.

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  Davies boasts the Premier League pedigree that the history-making Red Dragons are after, with Hollywood co-owners prepared to help finance deals that allow more marquee signings to be made.

Liverpool have now decided to allow a “world-class” player to leave the club during the summer transfer window, according to a fresh claim.

Ins and outs at Liverpool this summer

After so many quiet windows at Anfield in recent years, this summer has the potential to be the busiest in a long time.

Arne Slot will require fresh faces added to his squad, with Liverpool in need of bolstering key areas, including left-back and centre-forward. Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez has been mentioned as a player the Reds have shown interest in, possibly seeing him as a front-runner alongside Newcastle United ace Alexander Isak.

Lyon star Rayan Cherki has also been linked with a move to Anfield in the coming months, with the Frenchman having six goals and nine assists to his name in 16 Ligue 1 starts this season. He also has eight assists in 10 Europa League outings, highlighting his creative quality.

There is still a huge amount of focus on the futures of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, with none of Liverpool’s legendary trio signing new deals yet.

They aren’t the only potential players who could leave, with Slot potentially not seeing a future for any of Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota or Darwin Nunez. Now, an exit rumour regarding another player has emerged.

"World-class" Liverpool player set to leave

According to a new update from Calciomercato [via Sport Witness], Liverpool could allow Federico Chiesa to leave at the end of the season.

The Italian has struggled to make an impression since signing from Juventus last summer, and a return to his homeland has been mooted. Napoli are thought to be keen on snapping up the £150,000-a-week winger, and they are thought to be in pole position to snap him up.

It simply hasn’t worked out for Chiesa, with Slot seemingly not considering him an important part of his plans, even though Alessandro Pierini has lauded him in the past, saying:

“He’s world-class. He has all the ability and desire of a great player. If he improves then he’ll be even better than his father [Enrico]. I have loads of respect for Enrico and all he has done to help Federico come on as a player until now.”

Chiesa has been limited to just 25 minutes of Premier League action in the 2024/25 season to date, spanning three separate cameos, and he has even struggled for playing time with other attacking players out of form in recent weeks.

Should the 27-year-old depart at the end of the campaign, he will be viewed as a cheap gamble that ultimately didn’t work out, but if he ends up staying put, the hope is that he can kick on and show Liverpool fans his quality.

Deal close: Liverpool now in talks to sign "superb" star over Real Madrid

He’d be an instant upgrade…

By
Tom Cunningham

Mar 21, 2025

As things stand, though, a summer exit looks more likely than not, unless he enjoys an eye-catching couple of months in the title run-in.

Liverpool have agreed to pay £100 million in transfer fees for Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz with a potential £16m in add-ons.

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• Liverpool shake hands with Leverkusen on Wirtz deal
• Complete deal structure has been thrashed out
• German set to complete switch after his holidays

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to , the Reds have struck a deal with Leverkusen, agreeing to a base transfer fee of £100m (€118m/$136m), with a further £16m (€19m/$22m) to follow in potential bonuses. The additional payments are believed to hinge on the club securing major honours during Wirtz’s time at Anfield, with the condition that the 22-year-old features regularly in the team.

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  This eye-watering deal sees Liverpool eclipse Chelsea’s £115m purchase of Moises Caicedo, which had previously held the record for the highest transfer fee paid by a British club. Wirtz will become just the 10th footballer in history to be transferred for a fee north of £100m, placing him among an elite group of players such as Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, and Jude Bellingham.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Wirtz's composure, creativity, and tactical intelligence have seen him attract interest from elite clubs across the continent, including Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and Manchester City. Despite this competition, Liverpool’s financial power and sporting project proved to be decisive. Even Bundesliga powerhouses Bayern Munich were unable to compete with the comprehensive package Liverpool put on the table for the young German.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR WIRTZ?

  Personal terms had already been agreed between Liverpool and Wirtz over two weeks ago. The formal signing is expected to take place once the midfielder returns from his summer vacation.

It’s no secret that this has been an incredibly turbulent season for Tottenham Hotspur.

Ange Postecoglou’s job is currently hanging by a thread, and if his side don’t win the Europa League, then it’ll truly be a year to forget.

Fortunately, the transfer window is just around the corner, and with it, there is a chance to reinforce the squad with genuine quality, but even then, problems could be ahead.

For example, recent reports have claimed that one of the club’s most important stars is on the wishlist of a European giant and could leave in a move reminiscent of Kyle Walker’s all those years ago.

Spurs' potential exits

There isn’t just one first-team player who might be on the way out of Spurs in the summer, as reports from late last month revealed that the midfield could be in for a big revamp.

In particular, Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur could be up for sale, with the former catching the eye of fellow Premier League side Everton and the latter simply “not part of Tottenham’s plans moving forward”, according to former scout Mick Brown.

However, while plenty of fans might be okay with their exits, they might be less so if Cristian Romero also leaves.

Transfer Focus

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

Yes, according to a recent report from Spain, the Argentine has been a key target for Atlético Madrid ‘for weeks’, and to make matters worse, Diego Simeone has personally contacted the player.

Moreover, the report has claimed that the interest is mutual and that the Spanish giants are ”studying an offer that can convince’ the North Londoners into selling, which, according to another story, could be around the £67m mark.

It would be a sizable sum of money for Tottenham, but losing Romero could be a massive blow, akin to losing Walker in 2017.

Why Romero could be Walker 2.0

Spurs have made several defensive sales in the years since Walker left the club, including Cameron Carter-Vickers, Juan Foyth, and Toby Alderweireld. So, what makes this potential transfer so similar to the Englishman’s?

Well, there are a few reasons, the first being just how much money could be involved.

When the former Lilywhites star was sold to City in 2017, he went for a massive fee of up to £53m, and while that ended up being value for money, it was a world record for a defender at the time.

Granted, if the former Atalanta star does join Atlético in the coming months, it won’t be for another world-record fee, but it will be the most the North Londoners have got for a defensive player and the third-highest fee they’ve received full-stop, behind only Harry Kane and Gareth Bale.

The second similarity is that, like the multiple Premier League champion, the Córdoba-born World Cup winner would be leaving N17 as one of the club’s most important players.

For example, while he’s missed much of this season due to injury and fitness issues, the 6 foot 1 “monster,” as dubbed by journalist Charlie Eccleshare, has made 115 appearances for the club, in which he’s scored seven goals, provided one assist and been named as one of the squad’s co-vice-captains.

So, it wouldn’t be hyperbolic to suggest that losing someone Lionel Messi describes as “the best defender in the world” would be just as, if not more, devastating to the North Londoners than losing Walker was.

Ultimately, if Romero is set on going, then Spurs might just have to make peace with it and get as much money for him as possible. However, if there is a chance he wants to stay, then they should be doing all they can to tie him down to a new deal, as they might find it as hard to replace him as they did Walker.

Spurs were rinsed by Pochettino signing who was a "poor man's Soldado"

The promising striker failed to live up to expectations in North London.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Apr 2, 2025

Arsenal might not be able to match Rodrygo's wage demands as they rekindle their interest in the Brazilian after missing out on Nico Williams.

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• Arsenal face stumbling block in Rodrygo pursuit
• Rekindled interest in the Brazilian after missing out on Williams
• Rodrygo's wage demands too high for the Gunners

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Rodrygo has been tipped to move out of the Santiago Bernabeu this summer after an underwhelming 2024-25 campaign, where he saw his game time reduced due to fierce competition in the club's attack. The Gunners, who are looking to sign a new forward, have been linked with a move for Rodrygo.

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  reports that Arsenal, at one point, were keen on signing Nico Williams from Athletic Club, but with Barcelona now in pole position to secure a transfer for the winger, the English giants have reportedly rekindled their interest in Rodrygo. Other than the Selecao star, Mikel Arteta also has his eyes on RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko and Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Los Blancos are likely to demand a fee in the region of €75 million (£64m/$86) for their star attacker, which Arsenal are ready to meet; however, the player's massive €12m per season salary demand could prove to be stumbling block for the North London club as they are not ready to spend that amount of money on player's wages.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

  Mikel Arteta's men will reassemble in late July and are then set to travel to Singapore and Hong Kong for their pre-season Asia tour.

All you need to know about Argentina's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Crowned champions of the world in 2022, Argentina will be defending their coveted title in the USA, Canada, and Mexico in 2026.

The Albiceleste defeated France in a thrilling final at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar to lift their third World Cup title, and their first since Diego Maradona’s iconic triumph in Mexico in 1986. Kylian Mbappe’s brilliant hat trick nearly stole the game from Lionel Scaloni’s side, but Emiliano Martinez’s heroics in the penalty shootout sealed the win for the men in blue and white for the crowning moment in Lionel Messi's illustrious career.

They comfortably secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup by topping the CONMEBOL qualifiers, beating arch-rivals Brazil both home and away along the way.

The Albiceleste are a force to be reckoned with, having won two Copa Americas and one World Cup in just four years. They will once again enter the tournament as one of the favorites, boasting quality players in every position – including the legendary Messi, who is set to play in his final World Cup. Despite his age, Messi continues to perform at a high level in MLS and remains capable of changing games single-handedly.

Ahead of the 2026 showpiece, GOAL takes a look at the possible squad that could travel to the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

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  Goalkeepers

  Barring any surprises, Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez is expected to start in goal for Argentina at the 2026 World Cup. Martinez has played a crucial role in Argentina’s recent success, delivering match-winning performances in both their Copa America and World Cup triumphs. He is nearly unbeatable in penalty shootouts, using mind games that can shake even the best strikers at the biggest moments.

  Geronimo Rulli of Marseille is expected to serve as the backup goalkeeper in the squad, with former PSV goalkeeper Walter Benitez likely to complete the group of goalkeepers, even if Juan Musso will not have given up hope of making it just yet.

  Player	Club
  Emiliano Martinez	Aston Villa
  Geronimo Rulli	Marseille
  Walter Benitez	Crystal Palace
  Juan Musso	Atletico Madrid

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  Defenders

  The Argentines are well covered in the defensive department, with numerous quality options in every position. The center-back pairing of Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez is arguably among the best in the world, with both players leading the backline and defending with aggression and composure.

  Meanwhile, the experienced Nicolas Otamendi remains a reliable choice for Lionel Scaloni’s side as well, while World Cup-winning penalty scorer Gonzalo Montiel, Nicolas Tagliafico, and Atletico Madrid’s Nahuel Molina are strong options off the bench, providing valuable depth and flexibility in case of injuries.

  Promising youngsters such as Valentin Barco, Julio Soler and Mariano Troilo will also be hoping to make the cut, but have their work cut out to break into the final roster.

  Player	Club
  Juan Foyth	Villarreal
  Valentin Barco	Strasbourg
  Facundo Medina	Lens
  Leonardo Balerdi	Marseille
  Cristian Romero	Tottenham Hotspur
  Nahuel Molina	Atletico Madrid
  Nicolas Otamendi	Benfica
  Lisandro Martinez	Manchester United
  Nicolas Tagliafico	Marseille
  German Pezzella	River Plate
  Gonzalo Montiel	Sevilla
  Nehuen Perez	Porto
  Marcos Acuna	River Plate
  Mariano Troilo	Belgrano
  Julio Soler	Bournemouth

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  Midfielders

  Alongside a strong defense, the Albiceleste are also well equipped in midfield. Scaloni will have a blend of experienced players and exciting young talents to choose from for the 2026 World Cup.

  The likes of Alexis Mac Allister, Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernandez, and Leandro Paredes played key roles in Argentina’s 2022 triumph and remain vital figures in the squad.

  Emerging talents such as Franco Mastantuono and Claudio Echeverri have been performing brilliantly for their respective clubs and could offer fresh options for Scaloni heading into the tournament, while someone like Thiago Almada has also impressed in Scaloni’s system and could play a significant role to play at the World Cup next year.

  Player	Club
  Leandro Paredes	AS Roma
  Rodrigo De Paul	Atletico Madrid
  Enzo Fernandez	Chelsea
  Thiago Almada	Lyon
  Exequiel Palacios	Bayer Leverkusen
  Nicolas Paz	Como
  Franco Mastantuono	Real Madrid
  Giovani Lo Celso	Real Betis
  Alexis Mac Allister	Liverpool
  Claudio Echeverri	Manchester City
  Guido Rodriguez	West Ham United

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  Attackers

  Argentina are also well stacked in attack. In fact, it is in the attacking department where the Albiceleste are arguably at their strongest. Led by none other than Lionel Messi, fans will be hoping for yet another magical campaign from the legendary number 10.

  Messi is well supported in attack by the likes of Julian Alvarez, who played a key role in the 2022 triumph, while Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez has also been at the peak of his game, playing an important role for both his club and the national team. Martinez was the top scorer of the 2024 Copa America, even netting the winner in the final against Colombia.

  Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone’s son, Giuliano Simeone, has also been impressive for the world champions and could emerge as a potential option to start at the World Cup.

  They will be without the legendary Angel Di Maria though, who announced his retirement after their 2024 Copa America title victory.

  Player	Club
  Julian Alvarez	Atletico Madrid
  Lionel Messi	Inter Miami
  Nicolas Gonzalez	Juventus
  Giuliano Simeone	Atletico Madrid
  Lautaro Martinez	Inter Milan
  Angel Correa	Atletico Madrid
  Paulo Dybala	AS Roma
  Matias Soule	AS Roma
  Alejandro Garnacho	Manchester United

Former Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette is reportedly set to leave Lyon and head to the Saudi Pro League.

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• Lacazette leaving Lyon again
• Ex-Arsenal ace heading for Saudi
• Set to secure lucrative transfer

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Fabrizio Romano reports that Saudi Pro League team NEOM SC have completed the paperwork to sign the Frenchman this summer. The 34-year-old is currently a free agent after leaving Lyon and now it seems he will head to the Middle East.

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  Lacazette was prolific for Lyon in his second stint at the Ligue 1 team, scoring 72 goals in 116 games following his 2022 departure from Arsenal. But after not extending his stay at the French team, the 16-time France international looks set to head to newly-promoted Saudi side NEOM next term.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The 5ft 9in Lacazette swapped Lyon for Arsenal in 2017 in a deal worth up to €60 million (£51.5m), and he proved to be something of a success, scoring 71 goals in 206 appearances for the Gunners. He also helped them win the 2020 FA Cup, too.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  It may just be a matter of time before Lacazette completes his move to the Saudi First Division champions, with the new Saudi Pro League season getting underway in August of this year.

England striker and captain Harry Kane has delivered a powerful message of support to the Lionesses as they prepare to launch their UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 title defence. Kane expressed confidence in the squad’s ability to bounce back from World Cup disappointment and reclaim their dominance on the European stage. The women’s national team begins their tournament with a high-stakes encounter against France in Zurich.

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• Lionesses set for Euro title defence
• Tough group stage fixtures await
• Kane backed them to conquer Europe again

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Group C, which England shares with former European champions the Netherlands and first-time participants Wales, has been dubbed the "group of death." Every fixture poses a serious test for Sarina Wiegman’s side, who will need to be at their absolute best to navigate the early stages.

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  Kane recalled with pride the historic scenes at Wembley Stadium during the Euro 2022 final when England defeated Germany 2-1 after extra time, with goals from Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly ensuring their first-ever major tournament victory. Drawing inspiration from that historic triumph, he believes that the current squad has the same mentality and talent not only to emerge from the group but also to go the distance and retain their European crown.

• WHAT KANE SAID

  Speaking to Kane said: "I was at Wembley for the Euro 2022 Final and saw the Lionesses lift the trophy. They were amazing scenes, and the ground was rocking at the final whistle. I was incredibly proud of what they achieved. Knowing how much hard work goes into being a professional athlete, for them to be able to bring it home was special.

  “We saw what that did for the game and how it brought the entire country together. It was brilliant to see the nation coming together when they made it to the World Cup final, too."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  While England soared to new heights in the 2022 European Championship, their recent World Cup journey ended in heartbreak. The Lionesses reached the final in Sydney, only to be narrowly beaten by Spain, thanks to a decisive first-half strike from Olga Carmona.

  "It was a shame about the result that day, but I’m sure they will do well at this summer’s tournament," he said.

  "I’d love to see them win the Euros for a second time and defend the trophy. I wish them all the best and hope they can bring it home. I’ll be watching and cheering them on. They deserve it.”

Juventus are targeting Bayer Leverkusen player Granit Xhaka following his failed move to AC Milan.

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• Juventus interested in Xhaka
• Xhaka's move to Milan collapsed
• Also eyeing Hjumland and Bissouma

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Juventus are preparing for a midfield overhaul under coach Igor Tudor, with new general manager Damien Comolli identifying key targets to reshape the squad. According to, one of the leading names on the list is Bayer Leverkusen’s Xhaka, who could be available for a fee in the region of €15 million (£13m/$17m).

  Xhaka had earlier agreed on personal terms with AC Milan, but the Italian club could not agree on terms with Leverkusen on a transfer fee.

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  Xhaka is not the only name on Comolli’s list, as Juventus’ dream signing of the midfield is Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali. However, Newcastle are demanding a fee in the region of €70 million (£60m/$82m), which makes a deal difficult. Juventus are also interested in Sporting CP’s Morten Hjumland and Tottenham’s Yves Bissouma, while they are actively seeking to sell midfield outcast Douglas Luiz, who has an offer from Leeds.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Juventus have secured their first signing of the season with the free transfer of Jonathan David from Lille after the Canadian forward rejected more lucrative offers to sign with the Bianconeri.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR JUVENTUS AND XHAKA

  Commoli and Tudor will hope to land Xhaka as he brings a leadership aspect to the team despite his age. For Xhaka, who saw his move to Milan break down, it will be once again a chance to play for a prestigious Italian side.