Leeds United will need to bolster their squad to give themselves a fighting chance of avoiding an instant relegation from the Premier League next season.

One area of the pitch in which the Whites are set to strengthen is their attack, after Football Insider reported that the club have doubts over Joel Piroe’s suitability for the top-flight.

The Dutch forward, who scored four goals in one half against Stoke City last month, won the Golden Boot with 19 goals in 46 matches in the Championship, but may not have the physicality for the Premier League.

Piroe lost a whopping 73% of his duels with opposition defenders in the second tier, which does not suggest that he would fare particularly well out of possession against top-flight centre-backs.

It was recently reported that the 49ers are eyeing up a summer swoop for Everton centre-forward Beto to bolster their options in the number nine position, which means that the Premier League attacker could take Piroe’s place in the starting XI next season.

Why Beto could be a good signing for Leeds

The Portugal international could be an excellent addition to the squad as an upgrade on the Dutch marksman because he has the technical and finishing qualities to be an effective top-flight performer, whilst also having the physical attributes to thrive at that level.

Of course, Beto is currently playing in the Premier League with Everton, which means that Leeds would be signing a player who has already been there and done it in the division, whilst Piroe is yet to play a top-flight game in his career.

The Toffees marksman is particularly impressive out of possession in comparison to the current Leeds forward, as evidenced by his physical data in the 2024/25 campaign to date.

24/25 Season

Beto (Premier League)

Piroe (Championship)

Appearances

28

46

Ground duels won per game

1.8

1.0

Ground duel success rate

38%

33%

Aerial duels won per game

3.1

0.7

Aerial duel success rate

48%

21%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Beto wins far more duels per game, and with a greater success rate, particularly in the air, which shows that he is significantly more reliable for his team out of possession.

This suggests that the Everton forward would be far more suited to a team battling against relegation, fighting against the odds, week-in-week-out, than Piroe, who was too weak in the Championship, would be.

Beto is not just a physical presence, though, as he has also scored eight goals from 6.63 xG in 13 starts in the Premier League, which shows that he has been an effective and clinical finisher who could provide a reliable option in the final third for Daniel Farke next season.

The Everton striker is not the only attacking addition who could come through the doors at Elland Road, though, as there has been an update on Manor Solomon’s situation.

The latest news on Manor Solomon

According to a fresh report from TEAMtalk, the Tottenham Hotspur attacker is open to holding talks with Leeds United over a permanent move to the club in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Israel international would like to speak with the Whites over another transfer to West Yorkshire because he ‘loved’ his time on loan in the 2024/25 campaign.

Transfer Focus

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

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This update from TEAMtalk came as a reaction to a report from Sky Sports Switzerland last week that claimed Marseille are interested in signing the winger from Spurs. That outlet added, at the time, that it would take a fee of roughly £17m to sign the forward from the Premier League side.

TEAMtalk’s latest update states that Solomon would still be keen on talks with Leeds over another move to the club, despite the reported interest from the Ligue 1 giants, which should come as good news to Farke and his staff.

Leeds must, now, press ahead with a swoop for the Spurs loanee because he could be the perfect winger to provide Beto with the service he needs, should the Whites also land a deal for the Everton marksman.

Why Solomon would be perfect for Beto

The Portuguese striker has scored two headed goals, five right-footed goals, and one with his left foot, which shows that the forward is more than capable in the air and can score a variety of goals.

Solomon could be the perfect winger for the striker because he has the ability to consistently create high-quality chances for his teammates, and can create different types of chances, from crosses, passes, and through balls.

The Spurs loanee was a superstar in the Championship for the majority of his time on loan at Elland Road, and his quality was pointed out by a former Leeds boss fairly quickly.

Early on in the 2024/25 campaign, Neil Redfearn hailed the winger’s ability, saying: “He’s got a quality that is better than this level, you can obviously see that. Initially in the first 20 minutes it was like tackling smoke. He was unplayable at times.”

24/25 Championship

Manor Solomon

Appearances

39

xG

8.15

Goals

10

Key passes per game

1.7

Big chances created

21

Assists

12

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Solomon backed up that praise by ending the season with a staggering haul of 31 goals and ‘big chances’ created in 39 appearances in the league for Leeds.

A return of 21 ‘big chances’ created in 39 matches speaks to his ability to consistently unlock opposition defences in different ways, as they were unable to stop him because of the variation in his game.

As you can see in the highlights above, the £17m-rated whiz has the ability to burst down the line to deliver teasing crosses into the box, which could be perfect for a physical forward who looks to get ahead of defenders to bundle the ball in, as he brilliantly assisted Mateo Joseph’s strike.

This suggests that Solomon would be a dream for Beto because he has the quality to ensure that the striker constantly has service in the box, giving him plenty of opportunities to find the back of the net in the Premier League.

Therefore, the 49ers must push to get deals over the line for the Spurs and Everton attackers in the upcoming summer transfer window, in order to give Farke and his team the best possible chance of avoiding an instant relegation back down to the Championship.

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Posts ByDan Emery May 7, 2025

Chelsea can end the 2024/25 campaign in the perfect way on Wednesday night. They face Real Betis in the UEFA Conference League final at the Stadion Wroclaw in Wroclaw, Poland, and have the opportunity to finish Enzo Maresca’s first season in charge with a trophy.

The Blues have been the dominant side in the competition this term. According to Sofascore, they have scored more goals than any other side, finding the back of the net 38 times, which is 16 more than their opponents. Their nine goals conceded were only bettered by two other sides, too.

The Blues surely go into this game as favourites, given their form in the competition so far. Indeed, Maresca seems to have much of his first-choice squad available for their final game of the campaign.

Chelsea’s team news vs. Betis

Luckily for the Blues, their final Premier League game of 2024/25 last Sunday saw them avoid any inquiries. That means star players, including Cole Palmer and Moises Caicedo, will be available for the final this evening.

Further inclusions and absences have been noted, with there two first-team players who will certainly not make the squad this week. They are Wesley Fofana, who is still out with an injury, and Romeo Lavia, who is not registered in the squad.

On a more positive note, Nicolas Jackson will come back into the squad for the finale, given his Premier League suspension is not in effect in European competition. Another player who could return is Christopher Nkunku.

The Frenchman was not involved against Nottingham Forest on Sunday, but his record in the Conference League is excellent. He has five goals and three assists in nine games in the competition, so he could make a real difference.

With that in mind, it will be fascinating to see who Maresca lines up with on Wednesday. Given the importance of the game, it seems the likes of Palmer, Caicedo and club captain Reece James will start, in what will surely be a strong lineup.

Robert Sanchez

Goalkeeper

Marc Cucurella

Left-back

Levi Colwill

Centre back

Trevoh Chalobah

Centre back

Reece James

Right-back

Moises Caicedo

Central midfield

Enzo Fernandez

Central midfield

Noni Madueke

Right wing

Cole Palmer

Attacking midfield

Jadon Sancho

Left wing

Nicolas Jackson

Centre-forward

Another player who could be in line to start the game is defender Trevoh Chalobah.

Why Chalobah could start vs. Betis

It has been a curious season for Chalobah in 2024/25. After spending the first half of the campaign on loan at Crystal Palace, he was recalled to Stamford Bridge and has since been an important player under Maresca.

Since returning from his loan spell, the “outstanding” defender, as Statman Dave once called him, has featured 18 times across all competitions, with four of those games coming in the Conference League.

The 25-year-old has helped to keep two clean sheets in that time, playing a total of 245 minutes in the competition. Now, perhaps he will be in line to start the final. He is a player experienced in European finals, having helped Chelsea win the UEFA Super Cup back in 2021, a game which he started and played 120 minutes.

The defensive “monster”, as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has been called up to former boss Thomas Tuchel’s latest England squad, although he did not start at the weekend. However, if he does come into the team for the final, potentially for Tosin, he will have the job of keeping Antony quiet.

The Manchester United loanee has been a standout player during his loan spell at Betis. In 25 games, he has nine goals and five assists. Half of those goal involvements have come in the Conference League, so he really does his best work there.

In fact, the Brazilian is similar to Palmer on FBref for this competition. For example, he averages 0.47xGA and 5.02 shot-creating actions each game. In comparison, Chelsea’s number 20 averages 0.48xGA and 4.11 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes.

It will be a tough task for Chalobah to keep Antony quiet, but it will surely be crucial for Chelsea’s success. He has proven in the past few months that he has the potential to hurt opponents when given time and space, so Chalobah’s excellent reading of the game will be crucial to preventing that.

Although the winger does operate on the right-hand side, he tends to drift inside a lot and look to cut in on his left foot to get a shot off. Thus, Chalobah may well have to come up against him directly.

However, that is a battle the Chelsea defender should be comfortable handling. His defensive stats for the Blues this season, via Sofascore, are impressive. For example, he averages 1.8 combined tackles and interceptions and wins 1.9 aerial duels per game. On top of that, he has been dribbled past just once in that famous Blue shirt this term.

If he does get the nod from the start, the boyhood Chelsea star has the chance to become a key player for the Blues as they look to win more European silverware. They could become the first side in history to win the three current European trophies. Chalobah has a huge role to play.

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ByRoss Kilvington May 26, 2025

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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ByJack Salveson Holmes May 29, 2025

If there is one thing Arsenal have really lacked this season, it’s goals.

Mikel Arteta’s side are set to finish second in the Premier League this weekend, but as things stand, they have scored 18 goals fewer than Liverpool.

With their attacking output such an apparent weakness, it’s hardly been surprising to see the Gunners linked with a host of brilliant strikers and wingers in recent weeks, with Rodrygo perhaps being the most exciting of them all.

However, if recent reports are to be believed, the North Londoners might now be looking at a potential alternative to the Real Madrid star, someone who’s been compared to Bukayo Saka.

Arsenal transfer news

Before we get to the star in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other players linked with Arsenal in recent weeks, such as Viktor Gyokeres and Bryan Mbeumo.

Transfer Focus

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

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The former has scored an unreal 53 goals in 51 appearances this season while providing another 13 assists for good measure, so even though he’d reportedly cost the Gunners between £60m and £70m, it would be hard to say he wouldn’t be worth it.

Likewise, Mbeumo has been on fire for Brentford this season, scoring 19 goals and providing nine assists in just 41 games, making his £60m price tag seem more than reasonable.

However, another name that has recently entered the picture, and someone who could be an ideal Rodrygo alternative, is Ademola Lookman.

Yes, according to a recent report from Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg, Arsenal are looking for a new winger this summer, and the Atalanta star is someone they are interested in.

In fact, Plettenberg claims that talks with the Nigerian international and other players “are in full swing.”

According to stories from earlier this year, the former Napoli star could cost the North Londoners up to £55m, and while that’s a lot of money, he’d certainly be worth it, especially as he’s won comparisons to Saka.

How Lookman compares to Rodrygo and Saka

So, before we get to why Lookman might be an ideal alternative to Rodrygo, let’s examine this comparison to Saka and where it has come from.

Well, in this instance it stems from FBref, which looks at players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, before creating a list of the ten most comparable players.

By doing this, it has been concluded that the Englishman is the second most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Nigerian across the last 365 days.

Lookman & Saka

Statistic per 90

Lookman

Saka

Non-Penalty G+As

0.78

0.79

Shots

3.23

3.39

Crosses into the Penalty Area

0.53

0.63

Live Passes

33.8

33.0

Shot-Taking Actions

5.44

5.93

Interceptions

0.12

0.16

All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 League Season

The best way to see how this is worked out is by taking a look at the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, including but not limited to non-penalty goals plus assists, shots, crosses into the penalty area, live passes, shot-taking actions and more, all per 90.

In short, there are a lot of statistical similarities between the “world-class” 27-year-old, as dubbed by the BBC’s John Bennett, and Saka, although were he to join the Gunners, he’d almost certainly have to play off the left – where he is still comfortable – which makes him an alternative to Rodrygo.

So, who comes out on top when we compare the pair’s output from this season against one another?

Interestingly, it’s actually the London-born dynamo who comes out on top, as in 39 appearances, totalling 2826 minutes, he has scored 20 goals and provided seven assists, which comes out to an incredible average of a goal involvement every 1.44 games or every 104.66 minutes.

In contrast, the Brazilian international has scored 13 goals and provided ten assists in 50 appearances, totalling 3290 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.17 games or every 143.04 minutes.

Ultimately, Rodrygo would certainly be a statement signing, but should it not materialise, Arsenal may end up better off bringing in Lookman, as he’s both more productive and incredibly similar to Saka.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes May 22, 2025

After signing Omar Marmoush in the January transfer window, Manchester City have now reportedly opened talks with another Bundesliga star in what would be a repeat of their deal for the Egyptian.

Marmoush's instant Man City impact

Having arrived for a reported £59m in a season that Manchester City couldn’t afford to get things wrong in the January transfer window, the pressure was certainly on Marmoush to perform. You wouldn’t know it, however. The Egyptian has enjoyed an excellent start to life at the Etihad, scoring seven goals in 18 games in a run that includes a stunning 14-minute hat-trick in a 4-0 thrashing of Newcastle United.

Pep Guardiola hasn’t shied away from praising the former Eintracht Frankfurt winger, either, telling reporters last month: “The numbers are really good.

“He arrived in the middle of the season and in a moment when we are not good. Sometimes when you come when everything is fluid and everything is fine it’s easy to adapt. But coming when the team is not playing good, that is a big credit.”

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By
Kelan Sarson

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The Spaniard will be hoping to see Marmoush only continue his bright start as Manchester City head into the final four games of their season. Still battling to secure their Champions League place, the Citizens have put together an impressive run of form at the perfect time and have three Premier League games to keep hold of their spot in the top five.

It will then be all eyes on Wembley as City attempt to avoid an upset and defeat Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final. Suddenly, from concerns that they may not even qualify for the Champions League, it’s still possible for the Citizens to finish as high as second and end the campaign with a trophy.

Man City open talks with Hugo Ekitike

Following the success of Marmoush, it looks as though those at the Etihad could return to the Bundesliga once again this summer. According to Bild, as relayed by Sport Witness, Manchester City have opened talks with Hugo Ekitike in an attempt to land a Marmoush repeat and a second Frankfurt player in six months.

The deal, like Marmoush’s in January, will not come cheap, however. The German side are reportedly demanding as much as €100m (£81m) to sell their star striker amid interest from Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City and others.

Dubbed “superb” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Ekitike is someone who would stand every chance of thriving in the current Manchester City side, especially given how successful his partnership with Marmoush was at Frankfurt. By taking that into the Premier League, the duo could help take City back to the top of English football alongside Erling Haaland.

Leeds United might have well strolled to automatic promotion in the end with a sizeable 100-point haul next to their name, but the Whites will know the Premier League is a different beast altogether compared to the Championship.

Indeed, Daniel Farke will be the manager tasked with turning the West Yorkshire giants back into a Premier League-ready outfit, with Leeds unfortunately falling back down to the EFL at the end of the 2022/23 season after three campaigns at the daunting level.

To help achieve that, the German looks to be in the market for some new defensive buys to shore up his newly promoted side, with a fresh goalkeeper very much a must when leaping up to the unforgiving top-flight.

Leeds' targets in defence

Of course, one of the main talking points towards the back-end of their promotion campaign was Farke axing Illan Meslier due to far too many errors seeping into the Frenchman’s game.

Therefore, it shouldn’t come as a great shock to anyone that the Whites are prioritising an upgrade in the number one position, with Serbian shot-stopper Djordje Petrovic reportedly catching their eye.

A new report from TEAMTalk suggests that Leeds are seriously considering a move for the Chelsea goalkeeper off the back of a standout loan stint in France with RC Strasbourg.

With Petrovic’s first-team situation uncertain at Stamford Bridge, Leeds could offer the 25-year-old plenty more game time, with the five-time Serbia international perhaps finding a new defensive teammate in Leonardo Balerdi if he also relocates to Elland Road shortly.

Further reports claim that the Whites are ready to put forward a bumper £38m bid for the Argentine centre-back, meaning their defence could have a fresh look ahead of their Premier League adventure if both signings enter the building, with the new duo in question potentially helping Leeds to stay afloat.

How Farke could transform Leeds' defence

Amazingly, despite playing for two separate Ligue 1 clubs currently, the standout pairing could both be donning Leeds colours next season if everything goes smoothly.

Both defensive figures do look ready for the challenge of top-flight football in England too, with Balerdi a calm orchestrator at the back for Marseille with a mammoth 104 touches of the ball averaged per league clash, alongside Petrovic also receiving some glowing praises in-between the sticks for Liam Rosenior’s men.

Petrovic’s constant class in goal for Strasbourg has even seen the ex-Hull City boss label the 25-year-old as “world-class”, alongside also stating that the 6 foot 4 ‘keeper will go on to have a “remarkable” career after his formative loan experience in France is up.

Leeds will hope the promising stopper morphs into an even better ‘keeper in West Yorkshire, therefore, with his numbers in Ligue 1 this campaign making him a huge upgrade on a waning Meslier in terms of being able to handle the pressures of a top division.

Games played

29

25

Minutes averaged*

90

84

Touches*

56.9

107.4

Accurate passes*

36.1 (78%)

89.4 (94%)

Ball recoveries*

9.0

6.1

Clean sheets

10

4

Combined, both Petrovic and Balerdi have managed to collect 14 clean sheets this season in league action, with the Serbian also proving himself to be a calm presence on the ball much like his South American counterpart, seen in him averaging a 78% pass accuracy from 29 league contests.

To add context, Meslier has only amassed 21 clean sheets in the Premier League from a far higher 107 clashes, with Petrovic already up to five at the intimidating level when infrequently featuring under Enzo Maresca.

Whilst Balerdi might find it hard to displace the likes of Pascal Struijk and Joe Rodon in the heart of defence immediately, his hefty £38m price tag must count for something in terms of his game time not being too thin.

With a safer pair of gloves in Petrovic too, Leeds will pray they don’t fall victim to a leaky Premier League campaign that ends with the all-too-familiar taste of relegation.

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ByKelan Sarson May 9, 2025

Crystal Palace have enjoyed a fantastic campaign under Oliver Glasner and now look set to put some of their new-found appeal to use in the transfer market.

Crystal Palace set to build on wonderful campaign

After defying the odds to record a remarkable FA Cup triumph, Crystal Palace now have the feather in their cap of being Europa League participants next term, which is bound to attract prospective recruits.

Glasner has made quite an impact since walking through the doors of Selhurst Park and has re-affirmed his commitment to the Eagles despite his prowess in the dugout not going unnoticed.

He stated: “I have one more year left, and now we are speaking about next season. Everything that happens after July 1 2026 we don’t talk about this at the moment. It is too far away.

“We are talking about this year, and that is why I am 100 per cent committed. I have a contract and I have no other things on my mind.”

With his future at the club secure, Crystal Palace are expected to be active on the market and have identified Strasbourg forward Emanuel Emegha as an ambitious target to strengthen their forward line ahead of next season.

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By
Tom Cunningham

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Unlikely to be the only arrival in South London, Mainz star Nadiem Amiri is also on the Eagles’ list as they look to the continent for fresh blood to help their European push.

Everyone connected with the club is experiencing an elevated level of excitement about the future. Arguably, Crystal Palace’s appeal has never been greater, and that can help to attract talent from global markets.

That said, Glasner is now reportedly intensifying advances to bring a talented gem to Selhurst Park that could be a star of years to come.

Crystal Palace intensify move for Faveurdi Bongeli

According to Africa Foot, Crystal Palace are stepping up talks to sign Tout-Puissant Mazembe winger Faveurdi Bongeli amid rival interest from Burnley in the 18-year-old.

Capable of playing on either flank, illustrating a degree of versatility, the youngster is also said to be on the radar of Borussia Monchengladbach, Dunkirk, Sint-Truiden and other clubs in England and Germany.

Faveurdi Bongeli’s statistics in 2024/25 – all competitions
Appearances	4
Goals	0
Assists	0

It is unclear whether he would go straight into the senior set-up or spend a period in Crystal Palace’s development squad before making the step-up, should a move occur.

Nevertheless, there is room for another wide player in Glasner’s squad to help complement the likes of Ismaila Sarr moving forward. Depth could be key to staking a claim in the Europa League, and Bongeli appears to be a star in the making with a number of clubs keen.

Now, it remains to be seen if Bongeli can achieve a dream move to England. Crystal Palace are likely to be in the hunt for several additions this summer, so there is plenty to get excited about for supporters.

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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It’s set to be a busy summer at Aston Villa, so could they sign a “special player” from a Premier League rival for £58m instead of Marcus Rashford?

ByBen Gray May 30, 2025

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.

The Champions League final is the pinnacle of any football season. With the showpiece finale set to bring the curtain down on another dazzling European campaign, it brings around a chance to look back at some of the best finals from years gone by.

While finals can often be drab affairs – the last four editions have all been decided by a single goal – the Champions League final has been no stranger to some of the most dramatic affairs over the years. Here is Football FanCast’s attempt at ranking the very best finals since the first one in 1956, based on the drama and significance of each match.

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Best Champions League finals

Rank

Final

Year

1

Milan 3-3 Liverpool

2005

2

Man Utd 2-1 Bayern Munich

1999

3

Man Utd 1-1 Chelsea

2008

4

Benfica 1-4 Man Utd

1968

5

Real Madrid 4-1 Atletico Madrid

2014

6

Bayern Munich 1-1 Chelsea

2012

7

Real Madrid 7-3 Frankfurt

1960

8

Celtic 2-1 Inter

1967

9

Steaua Bucharest 0-0 Barcelona

1986

10

Bayern Munich 0-1 Aston Villa

1982

11

Milan 4-0 Barcelona

1994

12

Liverpool 1-1 Roma

1984

13

Bayer Leverkusen 1-2 Real Madrid

2002

14

Real Madrid 3-1 Liverpool

2018

15

Barcelona 3-1 Man Utd

2011

15 Barcelona 3-1 Man Utd (2011) Guardiola's stars beat United in the final again

Barcelona’s class of 2011 are considered one of the greatest club sides of all time, with the likes of Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta bringing Pep Guardiola’s tiki-taka philosophy to life.

The 2011 final, held at Wembley Stadium, pitted the same finalists as in 2009, when Barca overcame United 2-0 in Rome’s Stadio Olimpico.

First-half goals from Pedro and Wayne Rooney suggested this would be a more even contest, but the second half saw Barcelona’s star men come alive.

Messi put Barcelona back in front shortly after the interval, while David Villa sumptuously curled home to seal the match and the Catalans’ third Champions League triumph in six seasons. The only surprise is that their dominance didn’t exactly endure after this.

Barcelona 3-1 Man Utd (2011)

Date

28th May 2011

Venue

Wembley Stadium, London

Attendance

87,695

Goalscorers

Pedro 27′, Messi 54′, Villa 69′ / Rooney 34′

14 Real Madrid 3-1 Liverpool (2018) Karius clangers and Bale wonder-strike completes Euro hat-trick

While maybe not the most spectacular of matches, this game did provide one of the most spectacular goals in a Champions League final, while also including one of the most bizarre. Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius gifted Karim Benzema the opener in Kyiv by inexplicably rolling the ball into his path before Sadio Mane equalised for the Reds.

Gareth Bale came off the bench to score an incredible overhead kick, before the Welshman finished the job with the help of another Karius mistake. It was a third consecutive Champions League triumph for Real Madrid – a feat that hadn’t been achieved for over 40 years.

Real Madrid 3-1 Liverpool (2018)

Date

26th May 2018

Venue

NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kyiv

Attendance

61,561

Goalscorers

Benzema 51′, Bale 63′, 83′ / Mane 55′

13 Bayer Leverkusen 1-2 Real Madrid (2002) Zidane's worldie wins Los Blancos' ninth CL

Another sensational Champions League final goal; another sensational volley and another Madrid victory. This time it was Zinedine Zidane who scored one of the most iconic goals in the competition’s illustrious history, sending a luscious, looping effort into the top-left corner from just inside Leverkusen’s penalty area at Hampden Park. Zidane’s goal on the stroke of half-time proved the winner, with Lucio having cancelled out Raul’s early opener.

Bayer Leverkusen 1-2 Real Madrid (2002)

Date

15th May 2002

Venue

Hampden Park, Glasgow

Attendance

50,499

Goalscorers

Lucio 14′ / Raul 8′, Zidane 45′

12 Liverpool 1-1 Roma (1984) Reds win on penalties to upset hosts and favourites Roma

It won’t have been often that Liverpool headed into a European Cup final as underdogs, but Joe Fagan’s Reds were up against it as they prepared to take on Roma in their own backyard, in what was just the hosts’ second European final, having won the Fairs Cup in 1961.

Phil Neal put Liverpool ahead before Roberto Pruzzo levelled things up before half-time. The teams could not be separated, leading to a penalty shootout. It is perhaps best known for Bruce Grobbelaar’s ‘spaghetti legs’ antics in goal, with Francesco Graziani blazing his effort over, handing the Reds match point.

Alan Kennedy netted the winning spot-kick, making Liverpool European champions for a fourth time.

Liverpool 1-1 Roma (1984)

Date

30th May 1984

Venue

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Attendance

69,693

Goalscorers

Neal 13′ / Pruzzo 42′

Liverpool won 4-2 on penalties

11 Milan 4-0 Barcelona (1994) Johan Cruyff's Barcelona swept aside by brutal Milan display

Johan Cruyff’s swashbuckling Barcelona side were expected to wipe the floor with a Milan team shorn of several key players, including Marco van Basten and Franco Baresi, due to injury.

Those expectations could have not ended up being further from the truth, with the Rossoneri delivering one of the finest team performances in a single game in the history of the competition to win 4-0 and claim their fifth European crown. Dejan Savicevic’s exquisite lob over a helpless Andoni Zubizarreta was the pick of the goals as Milan ran riot in Athens.

Milan 4-0 Barcelona (1994)

Date

18th May 1994

Venue

Olympic Stadium, Athens

Attendance

70,000

Goalscorers

Massaro 22′, 45′, Savicevic 47′, Desailly 58′

10 Bayern Munich 0-1 Aston Villa (1982) Peter Withe winner upsets odds as Villans reign in Europe

Not very often does the European Cup final pit a David and Goliath together, but that’s what we got in 1982 when an unfancied Aston Villa set up a grand finale against Bayern Munich.

Bayern were three-time European Cup winners and boasted international stars such as Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Paul Breitner in their starting XI.

In contrast, Villa had somewhat surprisingly won the First Division a year prior, and were forced to substitute their first-choice goalkeeper nine minutes into the final, leaving Nigel Spink – who had one first-team appearance to his name – to make his European debut for a Villa side decidedly lacking in star names.

That did not deter them, and they made the breakthrough midway through the second half through Peter Withe’s strike from Tony Morley’s cross, sparking jubilant scenes on the pitch and in the stands.

Bayern then had a late equaliser ruled out for offside as Tony Barton’s side held on to create history.

Bayern Munich 0-1 Aston Villa

Date

26th May 1982

Venue

De Kuip, Rotterdam

Attendance

46,000

Goalscorers

Withe 67′

9 Steaua Bucharest 0-0 Barcelona (1986) Duckadam saves four in incredible shootout

You’re probably wondering what a goalless draw is doing in a best finals piece. Well, in a great example of not needing goals to have drama and heroics, Steaua Bucharest’s only European Cup triumph can be put down to an unbelievable goalkeeping display from Helmuth Duckadam.

The Romanian saved all four of Barcelona’s spot-kicks to win the European Cup for his team. The shootout itself ended 2-0 in favour of Steaua after a goalless draw, with each of the first four attempts saved before Marius Lacatus finally converted.

Granted, some of the penalties weren’t the best, but there’s no denying the greatness of Duckadam’s exploits.

Steaua Bucharest 0-0 Barcelona (1986)

Date

7th May 1986

Venue

Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, Seville

Attendance

70,000

Goalscorers

None

Steaua Bucharest won 2-0 on penalties

8 Real Madrid 4-1 Atletico Madrid (2014) Real blitz Atletico in extra time to earn La Decima

Madrid had to wait 12 long years to claim ‘La Decima’, their tenth top-level European crown. They got the job done in style in 2014, though, beating city rivals Atletico Madrid 4-1.

Diego Godin put Atletico ahead, but Diego Simeone’s stubborn rearguard was not enough. Sergio Ramos sent the game to extra time with a last-minute equaliser, in which Gareth Bale, Marcelo and Cristiano Ronaldo scored to complete the rout for Carlo Ancelotti’s team.

Real Madrid 4-1 Atletico Madrid (2014)

Date

24th May 2014

Venue

Estadio da Luz, Lisbon

Attendance

60,976

Goalscorers

Ramos 90′, Bale 110′, Marcelo 118′, Ronaldo 120′ (p) / Godin 36′

7 Celtic 2-1 Inter (1967) Lisbon Lions come from behind to become first British champs

The famous Celtic side of 1967, dubbed ‘The Lisbon Lions’, triumphed over Inter to become the first British side to win the European Cup.

Celtic went behind through an early penalty, but from then on, it was an onslaught of green and white, with goals from Tommy Gemmell and Stevie Chalmers getting the job done. Incredibly, all but two of Celtic’s squad were born within a 10-mile radius of the club’s ground – just one of the reasons that team is still revered today.

Celtic 2-1 Inter (1967)

Date

25th May 1967

Venue

Estadio Nacional, Lisbon

Attendance

45,000

Goalscorers

Gemmell 63′, Chalmers 84′ / Mazzola 7′ (p)

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Posts ByRobin Mumford May 14, 2025 6 Real Madrid 7-3 Eintracht Frankfurt (1960) Ten-goal final hands Madrid fifth European crown on the spin

We’ll level with you: we didn’t watch the 1960 European Cup final. But its significance remains, as does its status as one of the greatest football matches of all time.

High-scoring games weren’t as rare back in the day, with both Real Madrid and Frankfurt reaching the final having put 12 goals past the likes of Jeunesse Esch and Rangers respectively – the latter coming in two brutal semi-final demolitions.

That theme continued into the final, with four-time winners Madrid – who had won every edition of the competition to this point – responding to Frankfurt’s opener by striking six times, while there was still time for Erwin Stein to bag a consolation double either side of Ferenc Puskas’ fourth goal of the final.

Alfredo Di Stefano also netted a hat-trick for Los Blancos as they stretched their historic run in front of well over 100,000 fans at Hampden Park. As the highest-scoring final, it just had to be on this list.

Real Madrid 7-3 Frankfurt (1960)

Date

18th May 1960

Venue

Hampden Park, Glasgow

Attendance

127,621

Goalscorers

Di Stefano 27′, 30′, 73′, Puskas 45′, 56′ (p), 60′, 71′ / Kress 18′, Stein 72′, 75′

Stood on the side of the pitch after Arsenal’s 1-0 win on Sunday, Mikel Arteta issued a rallying cry.

Hopefully the people upstairs do their job, he essentially pleaded, urging the Kroenke’s to put their money where their mouth is and give the Gunners the tools to finally win the Premier League again after 20 long years. It was rather telling.

Josh Kroenke, Stan’s son, does at least seem on board, acknowledging in his programme notes for the Newcastle game that “investment” will be made to improve the playing squad.

Time will tell, of course, but there’s a lot to do this summer. That includes signing a striker, a winger, a new back-up goalkeeper and a midfielder too.

Proceedings look set to begin with the arrival of Martin Zubimendi.

Why Arsenal are signing Martin Zubimendi

Back in January reports emerged that Arsenal were working on a deal to bring the Real Sociedad midfielder to the Emirates Stadium.

After signing Mikel Merino from La Real last summer, the relationship between the two is clearly civil and that’s shone through here.

Still, it’s a surprise that the Spaniard has chosen Arsenal as his next destination. After all, it was Premier League title winners, Liverpool, who fought so hard to bring him to England a year ago.

Zubimendi reportedly turned down the Reds’ advances and despite interest from Real Madrid too, the Gunners look set to win the race.

Transfer Focus

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

So, why are they signing him? Well, there’s two principal reasons; Thomas Partey and Jorginho are out of contract at the end of the season. The second is that Zubimendi is rather good at football and the third involves Declan Rice.

With Partey and Jorginho leaving it means Arsenal need a no.6 and in the Sociedad star, they will be signing one of the best in that position in the world.

In the words of data analyst Ben Mattinson, the Spaniard’s “ball temperament is better” than Partey’s, meaning that a combination of Zubimendi and Rice “could be special.”

The Spain international will never be someone to gallivant forward. He only ranks in the worst 14% of midfielders in LaLiga for shot-creating actions and the worst 44% for goals.

What he does do well is sit, dictate and evade the press. Zubimendi sits inside the top 20% in Spain’s top-flight for progressive passes, the best 9% for dribblers tackled and the best 13% for interceptions, rubber stamping his credentials to play at the base of Arsenal’s midfield.

As a consequence, it would free Rice up to play as an 8 on a more regular basis. As we saw during two Man of the Match displays against Real Madrid where he ran the show, he’s really rather good at that.

Yet, Arsenal did actually already have their own Zubimendi.

Arsenal’s very own Zubimendi is set to leave

This is due to be a summer of change in N5 with a batch of players hopefully set to be welcomed to the Emirates and another crop saying their farewells.

On Sunday, we saw Kieran Tierney given one final run out at Arsenal’s home stadium and it’s also likely to have been Jorginho’s final match in the club’s colours.

Indeed, having been brought on as a very late substitute and handed the captain’s armband, it looked like a goodbye from the Italian who is on the verge of moving to Brazil.

Jorginho’s £110k-per-week contract will soon expire and consequently, he has now “sealed” a deal to join Flamengo in time for the Club World Cup according to Fabrizio Romano.

The former Chelsea midfielder has enjoyed a great time of it at Arsenal. Initially the fanbase couldn’t get their heads around why they were signing him but he quickly proved everyone wrong. He’s one of the most consistent and reliable players we’ve seen at the Emirates during its near two decades of existence.

A tempo setter, few have been better in that regard over the last few years. Indeed, during 2022/23, only Rodri made more passes (2,831) in the Premier League than Jorginho (2,404) when compared to Moises Caicedo, Casemiro, Bruno Guimaraes and Declan Rice.

1. Rodri

2,831

2. Jorginho

2,404

3. Moises Caicedo

2,130

4. Declan Rice

1,974

5. Bruno Guimaraes

1,578

6. Casemiro

1,353

At dictating play, Jorginho is one of the best we’ve seen in recent years in the English top-flight.

It’s for that reason that similarities to Zubimendi emerge. Described as an “elite tempo controller” by the aforementioned Mattinson he’s already suggested that the Spain star is a “deep-lying playmaker like Jorginho”.

As a result, there really does feel like there is no one better suited in Europe’s top leagues for replacing the qualities that the Champions League and Euros winner brought so successfully to Arsenal for a couple of years.

It’s reported that Zubimendi will cost around £51m to bring to England but that certainly feels like money well spent. Arsenal need a midfielder and they need someone to give Rice more freedom in attack. This is the signing that allows that to happen.

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