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All roads lead to Bilbao in the Europa League, with Manchester United bidding to ensure that this drab season can end with a flourish, having been drawn against Lyon in the quarter-final stage.

A third trophy in three years for the Red Devils would certainly help to paper over the cracks of the club’s dire Premier League form, although, as manager Ruben Amorim has already admitted, any European glory would not be enough to “save” their season.

Regardless of what happens on the continent, work is seemingly already being done behind the scenes ahead of what is yet another vital summer transfer window.

Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven were acquired in January, while 17-year-old wing-back, Diego Leon, is set to arrive at the end of the season, after agreeing a £3m move from his native Paraguay earlier this year.

With departures expected – including the likes of Victor Lindelof and Christian Eriksen – Amorim’s ranks will need to be bolstered, with rumours already rife regarding the business that could be done over the coming months.

Latest on Man Utd's transfer search

It has been noteworthy in recent times that rarely have the Red Devils recruited from within the Premier League, with Erik ten Hag’s tenure notably seeing a raft of Eredivisie arrivals make the move to Old Trafford.

Since signing the likes of Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka in 2019, the only senior signing – excluding academy moves, loans and free transfers such as Eriksen and Jonny Evans – to have come from another top-flight club is Mason Mount, with the Englishman joining on an initial £55m deal from Chelsea in 2023.

While that deal has backfired amid Mount’s injury woes – and his return of just one goal to date – it could be wise to once again attempt to cherry-pick the best in the division. Think landing a teenage Wayne Rooney from Everton back in 2004.

That scenario could be set to repeat itself, if recent reports are to be believed, with the Daily Mail reporting that United are among a raft of Premier League clubs to have begun working on a deal for Southampton’s Tyler Dibling.

As per the report, 17 top-flight sides have lodged an enquiry in their bid to land the 19-year-old sensation this summer, albeit with the Old Trafford outfit holding the trump card, due to Jason Wilcox’s connection to the Saints after serving as director of football at St Mary’s previously.

Transfer Focus

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

The piece indicates that United have already sent scouts to watch the England U19 international of late, with the race now on to see just who will win the battle for his signature.

Why Man Utd could be chasing their next Rooney

As alluded to above, at the peak of their powers under Sir Alex Ferguson, the Red Devils were able to poach the very best that the division had to offer, be it Dimitar Berbatov, Robin van Persie, or indeed, a young Rooney.

After two years in the first-team at Goodison Park, ‘Wazza’ – fresh off the back of his Euro 2004 exploits – was snapped up by Ferguson and co on a £27m deal, with United’s faith in that 18-year-old superstar duly rewarded amid his eventual rise to being the club’s all-time top scorer.

The former England skipper was something of a freak talent, it must be said, yet the aforementioned Dibling could well be on a similar trajectory, having been a firm fixture of Southampton’s first team in recent years, despite his youth.

Games (starts)

25 (17)

Goals

2

Assists

0

Big chances missed

1

Big chances created

2

Key passes*

0.7

Pass accuracy*

83%

Successful dribbles*

1.6

Fouled*

1.8

Tackles*

1.2

Handed his senior debut back in 2023, the teenage winger has particularly caught the eye in a dismal Saints side this season, notably starring against United on his first Premier League start back in September, after winning a penalty following a foul from Diogo Dalot.

While, unlike Rooney, Dibling is an England youth star rather than a central figure in the senior Three Lions side, it is telling that he has already solidified a regular role for himself at club level, particularly at a time when teenagers are not so readily thrown into the mix.

A return of four goals and two assists so far this term in all competitions is encouraging for the Exeter-born starlet, with it no surprise that he has earned rave reviews, having been hailed as an “unreal talent” by analyst Ben Mattinson.

In a way, he does possess that almost street footballer vibe that a teenage Rooney also had, with Dibling catching the eye with his low socks and innate dribbling ability. Indeed, he ranks in the top 7% of Premier League midfielders for progressive carries and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90.

A “world-class talent” – in the view of Southampton academy manager, Andy Goldie – the silky sensation looks destined for the top, with it set to be intriguing to see if he can follow in Rooney’s footsteps and shine at an elite club like United, should a deal get done.

Van Nistelrooy 2.0: Man Utd offered chance to sign "best CF on the market"

Man Utd can finally end their search for a proven number one

1 ByRobbie Walls Mar 25, 2025

West Ham United and Graham Potter are ready to sell a “smart” Julen Lopetegui signing this summer.

West Ham preparing for Potter’s first full season in charge as Irons eye signings

It hasn’t been a season to remember for the Hammers after splashing the cash in the summer transfer market under Lopetegui. The former boss and Tim Steidten brought a number of new players to the London Stadium, however, neither are still at the club.

Max Kilman

Wolves

€47.5m

Crysencio Summerville

Leeds United

€29.3m

Niclas Fullkrug

Borussia Dortmund

€27m

Luis Guilherme

Palmeiras

€23m

Mohamadou Kante

Paris FC

Undisclosed

Aaron Wan-Bissaka

Man Utd

€18m

Wes Foderingham

Sheffield United

Free transfer

Guido Rodriguez

Real Betis

Free transfer

Jean-Clair Todibo

Nice

Loan transfer

Carlos Soler

PSG

Loan transfer

Evan Ferguson

Brighton

Loan transfer

Potter replaced Lopetegui who was sacked at the beginning of the year, while former technical director Steidten left weeks later. West Ham and Potter now appear to be working behind the scenes on signings ahead of the 2025/26 season, with a new forward high on the to-do list.

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ByDominic Lund Mar 24, 2025

A number of attackers have been linked with moves to London. Potter is keen on Lille striker Jonathan David, whereas an approach has been made for Fiorentina’s Moise Kean and an offer is thought to be on the table for Corinthians striker Yuri Alberto.

After an attacking arrival, there could be a departure in the final third, with Pitter and West Ham willing to cash in on a recent addition.

West Ham want to sell Guilherme for £25m as Feyenoord eye move

According to reports in the Netherlands, relayed by Sport Witness, West Ham are looking to get rid of Luis Guilherme.

It is stated that Dutch side Feyenoord are looking to sign the 19-year-old after failing to bring him in during the January transfer window, with the Hammers wanting €30m (£25m).

The youngster joined West Ham from Palmeiras for just over £25m last summer, and he has made seven appearances during that time, three of which have come under Potter.

Lopetegui praised Guilherme shortly before his sacking, calling him “very humble” and “very smart”.

“Step by step he’s more ready to help us and he’s going to take advantage of his opportunity. I have the feeling that, with time, he’s going to become a very good player for the Premier League.

“He has one very, very good thing: his mentality. He’s a hard worker. He’s a very humble boy and a very smart boy. He wants to improve. That’s why I think that he’s going to have a good future.

“I would like that his future is as soon as possible because we want to take advantage of him. I have a good opinion about the future because of his condition, physical, technical and his mentality. Mentality is key in all the players. If you have the right mentality, you are able to survive in the Premier League.”

In need of an attacking overhaul, Manchester United could now reportedly offer Rasmus Hojlund in a summer swap deal to sign an instant upgrade for Ruben Amorim and his side.

Amorim bemoans Man Utd's attacking struggles

Manchester United’s attacking problems couldn’t have been summed up much better than just how much more dangerous Harry Maguire looked when leading the line compared to the likes of Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee against Nottingham Forest.

The central defender offered the physical presence that Zirkzee and Hojlund otherwise lack and even moved with the attacking intelligence both forwards have failed to show consistently this season.

Minutes

1,479

1,328

Goals

3

3

Assists

0

1

Expected Goals

3

4.5

Amorim is well aware of his side’s attacking struggles too, telling reporters when asked what needs to change after Manchester United’s 1-0 defeat against Forest: “Yes, because if you look at some games, we cannot create situations where they create. The opponent sometimes create more opportunities and today was not the case.

“They scored one shot maybe two shots at goal and we manage not to score again. We have to improve in the last third. We are improving the way we build up. We are pushing the opponents more to their half, but there’s a lot to be given.”

Man Utd now open to selling star to fund move for "world-class" £62m striker

The Red Devils could cash in on a first-team player, following a very disappointing performance against Nottingham Forest.

1 ByDominic Lund Apr 3, 2025

That improvement, at this stage, looks unlikely to come by relying on Hojlund and Zirkzee which is destined to end in an attacking overhaul at Old Trafford. And whilst it remains to be seen just who arrives to solve Amorim’s problems, names such as Benjamin Sesko and Samu Aghehowa have already threatened to steal the headlines once or twice.

There’s no doubt that both would offer United instant upgrades, but there remains questions over their ability to lure such players to Old Trafford in current circumstances. Amid that doubt, the Red Devils have seemingly turned towards an option closer to home.

Man Utd could offer Hojlund in Mateta swap deal

Whilst Hojlund and Zirkzee have struggled this season, Jean-Philippe Mateta has continued to thrive and may yet find himself on his way to Old Trafford as a result this season.

According to Football Transfers, Manchester United could even offer Rasmus Hojlund in a shock swap deal to sign Mateta this summer, landing an instant solution to Amorim’s attacking problems in the process.

Dubbed “amazing” by Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner, the Frenchman has outscored United’s two struggling strikers in the current campaign with 12 Premier League goals to his name providing more than enough evidence of his quality.

With talks reportedly already open over a move worth €50m (£42m), INEOS could save themselves some vital funds by ending Hojlund’s Old Trafford nightmare and signing Mateta whilst doing so this summer.

Glasgow Rangers showed plenty of fighting spirit under Barry Ferguson once again during his interim period in charge as they came back from 2-0 down to draw against Aberdeen.

The result was made even better by the fact that Ross McCausland was sent off for the Ibrox outfit after receiving a second yellow card just five minutes before the interval.

With the second leg of the Europa League quarter-final tie coming up against Athletic Bilbao on Thursday evening, it was evident that Ferguson was thinking ahead to that game, making nine changes to his team.

In the grand scheme of things, the result wasn’t important, especially as the domestic season is all but done for the Light Blues.

The game did present an ideal chance for several fringe players to make an impression against the Dons. The likes of Danilo, Rafael Fernandes, Findlay Curtis and McCausland were all given starts at Pittodrie.

Given the most important match of the season is fast approaching, none of the aforementioned players took their chance to shine against the Dons.

In McCausland’s case, his brief cameo on the pitch could well turn out to be one of his last games for the Ibrox side.

Why Ross McCausland was sent off against Aberdeen

The Northern Irish winger was given his first league start since the 2-1 loss to the same opponents all the way back in October 2024.

He received an early yellow card before he chopped down Aberdeen player Topi Keskinen in what was a senseless challenge that saw him receive a second yellow and ensured the Gers would play the rest of the game with ten men.

After breaking into the first-team squad last season due to an injury crisis, McCausland looked to have a bright future ahead of him, although there were certainly a few things to work on.

The current campaign hasn’t exactly been much of a success, as the winger has featured 25 times for the club, with only seven of those coming in the starting XI.

A tally of just three goals and a solitary assist has been registered from those matches, hardly numbers which have given the Ibrox faithful much confidence in his abilities.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Across his 13 league matches this term, the youngster has registered only 1.2 shots per game while creating no big chances, averaging just 0.6 key passes per match and succeeding with only 0.8 dribbles each appearance for the Light Blues.

In Europe, these numbers decrease even further, as he has averaged no key passes per game while succeeding with 0.7 dribbles and recording only 0.4 shots a match in the Europa League.

Goals

3

0

Assists

4

1

Key passes per game

1.4

0.6

Big chances created

3

0

Successful dribbles per game

0.9

0.8

It has become evident that he isn’t up to the required standard to be a regular at the club, especially if the new manager wishes to embark on a title challenge next season.

If a decent offer arrives this summer, then McCausland should be offloaded at the first available opportunity, no doubt about that.

He isn’t the only one who must be sold when the summer transfer window opens either, as someone who was signed just last summer must headline the list of those expected to depart Rangers.

Bajrami's performance against Aberdeen in numbers

Nedim Bajrami was making his first start for the club since a 3-1 victory over Dundee United in January. With a chance to make a solid impression ahead of the second leg against Bilbao in midweek, it’s fair to say that the Albanian failed to take his chance.

Deployed in a deeper role than he is perhaps accustomed to, Bajrami struggled throughout the match, taking just 44 touches and completing only 25 of his 32 passes against the Dons.

Bajrami lost possession ten times, registered no shots and failed to deliver an accurate cross throughout his time on the pitch. The former Sassuolo man was subbed off with 25 minutes remaining and quite frankly, must not start again in Light Blue.

Journalist Ben Banks of Glasgow World gave Bajrami a match rating of just 4/10 for his performance on Sunday and it is clear he has regressed massively since arriving at Ibrox last summer.

With yet another lethargic display for the Light Blues, Bajrami may have started his last game for the club.

Why Bajrami could be sold this summer

The midfielder joined Rangers in a deal worth around £3.4m towards the end of the 2023 summer transfer window.

It appeared as though Philippe Clement had landed a decent signing, as Bajrami did showcase his talents during his first few months at Ibrox.

He scored on his first European start for the club against Malmö in September, adding goal involvements against Aberdeen, Dundee and Motherwell, with his goal against the latter sending the Gers through to the League Cup final.

Since the start of 2025, however, Bajrami has recorded only four assists in all competitions, with none coming in Europe.

Stevie Clifford, who runs the Four Lads Had a Dream, criticised the player back in January after a string of poor performances, saying: “I’ll highlight it again, it’s not singling him out, but Nedim Bajrami is not offering enough at all. We need him to influence games & be involved, largely anonymous so far, again. £4m is big money to do it in these type of games & he’s miles off it so far.”

He hasn’t become any more influential since Clifford said this and his spell in Glasgow may be short-lived, especially if a new coach comes in who wants to sell a few players to raise transfer funds.

If an offer comes in that would see Rangers recoup the majority of the £3.4m they paid for him, then the board will certainly be keen on accepting this, without a shadow of a doubt.

Some transfers work out well, while others don’t. That is the nature of the beast. In Bajrami, Rangers thought they had a player who might take them to the next level, especially considering he had shone at Euro 2024 and in Serie A. Unfortunately, it hasn’t quite worked out like that.

As bad as McCausland: Ferguson must instantly drop £5m Rangers man

Rangers fought back from 2-0 down to salvage a 2-2 draw at Pittodrie against Aberdeen, but one flop in particular came in for scathing criticism.

ByBen Gray Apr 13, 2025

Manchester City are now closing in on a “world-class” defender, having recently received a boost in their transfer pursuit, according to a report.

Man City pursuing new full-back

With captain Kyle Walker being shipped out on loan to AC Milan in January, Matheus Nunes has been filling in at right-back, meaning Man City have now set their sights on a replacement, and Tottenham Hotspur’s Pedro Porro has been identified as a potential target.

Spurs are set to drive a hard bargain for the right-back, having set an asking price of £50m, but the Spaniard is not the only Tottenham defender of interest to City, with left-back Destiny Udogie emerging as a target earlier this month.

The Blues have been pursuing a new left-back for quite some time, and there are a number of options from within the Premier League, including AFC Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez, although there could be competition for the Hungarian from Liverpool and Real Madrid.

Man City now make £34m+ offer to sign "incredible" Ederson replacement

The Citizens have stepped up their pursuit…

BySean Markus Clifford Apr 28, 2025

Pep Guardiola’s side have also been extensively linked with a move for Juventus’ Andrea Cambiaso, and a new report from The Sun has revealed they are now closing in on a move for the Italian after receiving a recent boost in their pursuit.

Juventus are advancing towards signing a replacement for Cambiaso, namely Arsenal’s Nuno Tavares, who is currently on loan at Lazio, which indicates they are planning to sell their current left-back in the summer transfer window.

Man City are expected to make a fresh attempt to sign the 25-year-old, who they have been interested in signing since the January transfer window, and reports from elsewhere have stated that a deal could amount to around £54m.

"World-class" Cambiaso could be fantastic signing

Since forcing his way into the first-team, Nico O’Reilly has done a remarkable job at left-back, particularly impressing in an attacking sense, having picked up five goals and two assists in 16 games for City.

However, Guardiola may want to bring in a more experienced option this summer, and there are signs the Juventus defender could be a fantastic signing, given that he has received very high praise from journalist Zach Lowy.

It appears the Italy international is very comfortable in possession of the ball, given the number of passes he has attempted per 90 over the past year, while his pass-completion rate is also very impressive, potentially making the defender a perfect fit in a Guardiola system.

Statistic

Average per 90

Passes attempted

67.05 (92nd percentile)

Pass-completion %

88.5% (96th percentile)

Progressive carries

3.35 (92nd percentile)

Successful take-ons

1.10 (86th percentile)

There may be concerns that Cambiaso’s arrival could stunt O’Reilly’s development, but the Englishman is capable of playing in a number of different positions, so he should still receive regular game time, and the Juventus star could take City’s defence to the next level.

Even though this season is still ongoing, there’s only one question on Rangers supporters’ minds: who will be the next manager in the Ibrox dugout?

Barry Ferguson is still yet to oversee a home win for Rangers in five attempts during his interim spell, following Sunday’s 1-1 draw in the derby, hoping to change that at Ibrox this weekend.

So, as much as he might want it, it’s very unlikely that he is going to get the job full-time and, while there appear to be two clear front-runners to be appointed right now, should Rangers turn their attention to a “world-class manager”?

Rangers new manager latest

At the time of writing, there are two clear favourites to be appointed as the next Rangers manager.

One is Steven Gerrard, with Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider reporting that he is ‘now the leading candidate’ to be re-hired, just under four years after leaving the club for Aston Villa.

Gerrard has been out of work since January, when he was sacked by Al-Ettifaq after, as John Duerden of the Guardian puts it, a generally ‘underwhelming’ spell in charge of the Saudi Pro League club.

Thus, a report by TEAMTalk claims that Gerrard ‘would be very open’ to the possibility of a return to the Ibrox dugout.

The other manager seemingly in the fray is Marco Rose, with Mark Pirie of the Daily Record stating that the German is ‘being considered’ by Andrew Cavenagh, Paraag Marathe and the rest of 49ers Enterprises, ahead of their proposed takeover.

The 48-year-old is also currently out of work, having been sacked by RB Leipzig in March; he’s previously been in charge of RB Salzburg, Borussia Mönchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund.

Both would be intriguing appointments in very different ways, but should the 49ers actually attempt to appoint a manager with vastly more experience?

Rangers could land a world-class manager

A report by Mark Pirie of the Daily Record back in March claimed that Rafa Benítez is a candidate to become the new Rangers manager, stating that the Spaniard is ‘aware’ of speculation linking him to the vacancy.

Few active managers on the planet can boast quite as impressive a CV as Benítez, as outlined in the table below.

Real Valladolid

1995-96

25

Osasuna

1996

9

Extremadura

1997-99

92

Segunda promotion

Tenerife

2000-01

46

Segunda promotion

Valencia

2001-04

162

La Liga X2

UEFA Cup

Liverpool

2004-12

350

Champions League

FA Cup

UEFA Super Cup

Internazionale

2010

25

FIFA Club World Cup

Supercoppa Italiana

Chelsea

2012-13

48

Europa League

Napoli

2013-15

112

Coppa Italia

Supercoppa Italiana

Real Madrid

2015-16

25

Newcastle United

2016-19

146

EFL Championship

Dalian Professional

2019-21

38

Everton

2021-22

22

Celta de Vigo

2023-24

33

Benítez’s credentials are there for all to see, having won the Champions League, two La Liga titles and the Europa League twice, as well as various other trophies, managing some of the world’s biggest clubs, including Liverpool, Real Madrid, Inter and Chelsea.

His successor at Newcastle United, Steve Bruce, said that Benítez is unquestionably a “world-class manager”, even if his last two jobs, in charge of Everton and Celta Vigo, have both gone pretty disastrously.

He was never likely to succeed at Goodison was he, becoming only the second man, after William Edward Barclay in 1892, to manage both Merseyside giants.

Nevertheless, Dietmar Hamann, who played for Benítez at Liverpool, alongside Gerrard of course, described his former boss as a “genius” and a “fantastic manager”, adding that Rangers “could do a lot worse” in their search for a new head coach.

So, if the 49ers are looking for a manager who has vast experience when it comes to both British and European football, could the 65-year-old be the man tasked with overseeing the Rangers rebuild, pipping his former captain – and Rose – to the post?

Rangers: "Outstanding" 4-4-2 manager explodes into race to replace Ferguson

A high-profile European coach is now among the main contenders to become the new manager of the Gers.

ByDominic Lund May 1, 2025

A worrying injury update has now emerged on a Sunderland star ahead of this weekend’s trip to Coventry City in the first leg of the Championship play-offs.

Black Cats gearing up for play-off clash

The Black Cats have earned the opportunity to end their eight-year absence from the Premier League, courtesy of a fourth-placed finish in the second tier, but they could have their work cut out, given their form heading into the play-offs.

Regis Le Bris’ side are winless in their last six Championship games, losing their last five games on the spin, while upcoming opponents Coventry have fought valiantly in the second half of the season to secure a play-off finish under the helm of Frank Lampard.

While it could be difficult to re-gather momentum heading into the play-offs, Le Bris has insisted that a lack of a prize to play for may have affected his team towards the tail end of the season, saying: “We had nothing to chase and in that situation, it’s very difficult for all the teams in the world.

Worry for Le Bris as Newcastle eye possible move for £25m Sunderland star

This would be a massive blow for the Black Cats.

ByHenry Jackson Apr 13, 2025

“Look at Paris St Germain, for example. They won the title and went unbeaten all season. But as they started to prepare the (Champions League) semi-final, they lost two games in a row.”

The Sunderland boss had been hoping Romaine Mundle would return to selection for play-offs, which could have given his side a much-needed boost, but there has now been a worrying update ahead of Friday’s trip to Coventry.

Le Bris said: “I don’t know exactly who will be available but I don’t think we will quite have a full squad,”

“I think it will be a little bit soon for Romaine and also for Aji to be involved in the first leg. Most of the squad will be available. Romaine and Aji can hopefully be involved on Tuesday night.”

"Brilliant" Mundle could be huge miss for Sunderland

It looks very unlikely that Mundle will be involved this weekend, with Le Bris indicating he may not even be able to be involved in the second leg, and the winger could be a huge miss for the Black Cats.

The 22-year-old has been a key player when fit this season, picking up five goals and two assists in the Championship, and his absence coincides with the major drop-off in form, underlining his importance to the side.

Sunderland’s last five fixtures

Result

Queens Park Rangers (h)

0-1

Oxford United (a)

2-0

Blackburn Rovers (h)

0-1

Bristol City (a)

2-1

Swansea City (h)

0-1

Captain Dan Neil will also be disappointed by the news that the forward is unlikely to play a part in Saturday’s game, having lauded his teammate as “brilliant” in the past.

The news that Mundle is set to be unavailable will be a major concern for Sunderland ahead of the play-offs, especially considering their very poor form heading into the tie against Coventry.

Arsenal have moved ahead of Liverpool in the race to sign a “unique” target this summer, after sporting director Andrea Berta’s talks with his representatives.

Arsenal identify transfer targets ahead of crucial summer window

Mikel Arteta and Berta appear very likely to orchestrate a major rebuild in the off-season, and they’ve reportedly sealed their first signing of the window already.

Shades of Aubameyang: Arsenal lead race to sign "mind-blowing" goal machine

The prolific marksman could be the difference-maker for Arsenal next season.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 12, 2025

After months of talks, Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi has reached an agreement to join Arsenal, and the Spaniard appears set to arrive at N5 with Fabrizio Romano even giving his famous ‘here we go’ to the deal.

With Arteta’s side set to formalise Zubimendi’s move by triggering his £51 million release clause, Berta has a key Arsenal item ticked off his agenda nice and early.

2. Arsenal

68

3. Newcastle United

66

4. Man City

65

5. Chelsea

63

6. Aston Villa

63

7. Nottingham Forest

62

However, there is still plenty of work to do for the Italian, as it is reliably believed the Gunners are actively scouring for new forwards. Arsenal are looking at signing a new right-winger, left-winger and striker, with Athletic Bilbao starlet Nico Williams thought to be a top target.

The £170,000-per-week wide player is one of Europe’s most exciting talents, racking up an incredible 19 assists in all competitions last season and helping Spain to glory at Euro 2024.

Williams endured a slow start to the 24/25 campaign but picked up his form over the second half of the season, and his departure from Bilbao is highly anticipated.

In one of his “first acts” as sporting director, Berta held talks with Williams’ camp over a summer switch to Arsenal, according to The Guardian’s Ed Aarons.

Arsenal ahead of Liverpool in race to sign Nico Williams

He would arguably come as the perfect alternative to Gabriel Martinelli or Leandro Trossard on the left-hand side, and Williams’ contract includes a tantalising £49 million release clause.

As per journalist Graeme Bailey and The Boot Room, following Berta’s widely reported contact with the 22-year-old’s agents, it is believed that Arsenal remain frontrunners to sign Williams this summer, alongside Chelsea.

While Liverpool, Man City and Newcastle United have also contacted his camp, it is believed Arsenal and Enzo Maresca’s side are ahead of their Premier League rival trio as things stand.

Arteta and Berta appear to have the upper hand, but there is an aspect of caution to this transfer, as reports suggest Williams is set to demand a marquee salary to join any interested suitor – with The Mail even claiming that he wants around £400,000-per-week.

There can be no doubt in anyone’s mind over Williams’ obvious quality at this point, with legendary manager Jose Mourinho calling him a “unique” attacker, but the major obstacle could prove to be financial.

This summer simply has to be a seismic one for Tottenham Hotspur.

Ange Postecoglou and his squad turned what could have been an utterly disastrous campaign into an iconic one with their Europa League triumph in Bilbao last week, and now it’s Daniel Levy and Co’s turn to deliver.

With Champions League football secured, the Lilywhites board should be able to push the boat out that bit more in the transfer window and bring in the right stars to ensure their Premier League campaign next year can be just as memorable as their European one this year.

Fortunately, that seems to be happening, as recent reports have linked the North Londoners with one of the most exciting players on the continent and someone who could send Son Heung-min packing.

Tottenham transfer news

Before getting to the young superstar in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other impressive players who have been linked with Spurs in recent weeks and months, such as Marc Guehi and Leroy Sané.

Transfer Focus

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

The former could cost up to £50m, and while that is a lot of money, he’d bring plenty of experience at the domestic and international level while also potentially being the perfect replacement for Cristian Romero should the World Cup finally move on this summer.

Sané, on the other hand, would be completely free thanks to his contract expiring in June, and while he’s nearer to the end than the start of his career, he’d undoubtedly add something to the Lilywhites attack, as in just 45 games this season he has scored 13 goals and provided six assists.

However, another more exciting major target for Tottenham has now entered the picture: Xavi Simons.

According to a recent report from ESPN, Spurs are interested in the RB Leipzig star, although they are certainly not the only ones.

Other stories from earlier this month have also credited the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United with an interest in the Flying Dutchman, who could cost around £67m.

It could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Simons’ incredible ability and potential, it’s one well worth fighting for, especially as he could be the perfect Son upgrade.

How Simons compares to Son

So, the first thing to say is that one of Simons’ biggest strengths is that he can play off the right or in attacking midfield with relative ease, but considering Brennan Johnson has been in fine form in the former and James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski occupy the latter, it seems likely that he’d come in as a left-wing option.

Therefore, one of his primary competitors for game time, and the man he’d ideally be the long-term heir to, is Son, so who comes out on top when we compare them?

Well, when it comes to their raw output, it’s the former Pairs Saint-Germain gem, with 11 goals and eight assists in just 33 first-team appearances, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.73 games.

Appearances

33

46

Goals

11

11

Assists

8

12

Goal Involvements per Match

0.57

0.50

In contrast, the former Bayer Leverkusen star has scored 11 goals and provided 12 assists in 46 appearances for the North Londoners this season, which comes out to a goal involvement every other game.

Okay, what about their underlying numbers from this year? Which winger comes out on top when we take a look under the hood?

Unfortunately for the Chuncheon-born icon, this is another battle he loses, as in most relevant metrics, bar a few here and there, the 22-year-old “game-changing signing,” as dubbed by respected analyst Ben Mattinson, comes out comfortably ahead.

These metrics include, but are not limited to, non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes, goals per shot and shot on target, passes into the final third and penalty area, expected assists, tackles won, interceptions, blocks, clearances, successful take-ons, aerial duels won and more, all per 90.

Non-Penalty Goals + Assists

0.67

0.64

Progressive Passes

5.86

4.74

Progressive Carries

3.56

4.10

Shots

2.09

2.35

Shots on Target

0.96

1.02

Goals per Shot

0.20

0.11

Goals per Shot on Target

0.43

0.25

Passing Accuracy

78.6%

78.9%

Expected Assists

0.25

0.22

Passes into the Penalty Area

2.51

2.18

Passes into the Final Third

3.31

1.75

Live Passes

44.4

36.5

Shot-Creating Actions

4.52

4.99

Tackles

1.17

0.73

Tackles Won

0.88

0.38

Blocks

0.79

0.47

Interceptions

0.50

0.21

Clearances

0.79

0.73

Successful Take-Ons

1.38

1.24

Ball Recoveries

5.36

3.63

Aerial Duels Won

0.79

0.26

Finally, the Amsterdam-born “superstar,” as dubbed by Mattinson, is a decade younger than the captain, so there is every chance that he’ll continue to get better and better in the coming campaigns, which is a scary thought indeed.

Ultimately, Son has been an incredible player for Spurs over the years, but Simons looks to be better than him in practically every way, so Levy and Co should be doing all they can to sign him this summer.

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Aston Villa have now made contact over a deal for a defender, whose recent performances have attracted the attention of some top clubs, according to a report.

Aston Villa eyeing bargain signings amid PSR concerns

PSR has been a thorn in Villa’s side for quite some time now, having previously been forced to cash-in on the likes of Douglas Luiz and Jhon Duran to raise funds, and having missed out on the Champions League in controversial fashion, NSWE may have to make sales this summer.

After the 2-0 defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford, there are now doubts over the futures of Morgan Rogers, Emi Martinez and Marco Asensio, with Manchester City being named as potential suitors for the former in the past.

Martinez also looks as though he could be heading for the exit door, with Atletico Madrid recently entering the race for the Argentina international, alongside Manchester United, although it is unclear whether a move to Old Trafford would be of great appeal after their Europa League final defeat.

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Amid PSR concerns, it could be a wise idea for Aston Villa and NSWE to make some low-cost additions to the squad this summer, and they have now made contact over a deal for Hellas Verona defender Diego Coppola, according to reports from Italy (via Sport Witness).

Owing to some of his recent performances, Coppola is now attracting widespread interest ahead of the summer transfer window, with the likes of Juventus, AC Milan, Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford also being named as potential suitors.

A deal could be on the relatively cheap side too, with the Serie A side expected to receive offers of around €10m – €15m (£8m – £13m) in the coming weeks.

"No-nonsense" Coppola impressing in Italy

The Hellas Verona defender is only 21-years-old, but he has already solidified his place as a regular starter for the Italian side, making 34 Serie A appearances in the 2024-25 campaign, during which time he impressed considerably.

Indeed, the Italian centre-back showcased his defensive quality on a regular basis, perhaps most notably ranking in the top 1% for interceptions per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers.

Statistic

Average per 90

Aerials won

4.09 (98th percentile)

Interceptions

2.21 (99th percentile)

Tackles

2.03 (85th percentile)

Not only that, but the “no-nonsense CB”, as dubbed by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, also proved himself to be an attacking threat, scoring with a towering header in his side’s 3-2 victory over Parma back in December.

Coppola has proven he could now be ready to take the next step in his career, and he could be a fantastic low-cost addition to Unai Emery’s squad.