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Manchester United and INEOS are considering hijacking a transfer deal to sign a £40 million “great” attacking player in the summer, according to a recent report.

Man Utd transfer news

Between now and the end of the season, the transfer rumours around Old Trafford are expected to gather pace, as Ruben Amorim and co. are going to be looking for those who fit his system while also moving on players who have disappointed in a red shirt for too long.

Man Utd eye move for "elite" £83m striker who may join instead of Gyokeres

The Red Devils are keen on signing a striker this summer.

1 ByDominic Lund Feb 18, 2025

One player who appears to be closing in on a move to United is Geovany Quenda, as the 17-year-old has now reportedly agreed personal terms with the Premier League club. Ben Jacobs revealed earlier this week that United were progressing in talks to sign Quenda from Sporting CP, but they want to do a deal at £33 million while the Portuguese side want £50 million, meaning a compromise will be needed from both sides.

As well as looking to sign Quenda, it emerged over the weekend that the Red Devils are also willing to make a £125 million bid to sign Julian Alvarez from Atlético Madrid. This would be a surprise transfer, as the forward has only just joined the Spanish giants, and furthermore, he would be joining United after helping Manchester City win the Premier League and Champions League.

Man Utd considering transfer move to sign £40m Belgium star

New attacking additions don’t stop there for the Premier League side, as according to TEAMtalk, Manchester United are considering making a move to sign Charles de Ketelaere from Atalanta.

The 23-year-old is considered to be one of the best in his position in Europe and is also being looked at by Man City as a replacement for Kevin De Bruyne.

However, the Red Devils are also keeping a close eye on the player and could make a move to try and beat their neighbours to the transfer. United and City are not the only teams interested, as multiple other Premier League teams are looking at de Ketelaere as well.

The Belgian international, who has been dubbed a “great” player by analyst Ben Mattinson, joined Atalanta on a permanent basis in the summer after spending the 2023/24 season on loan from AC Milan. De Ketelaere scored 10 goals and recorded eight assists in Serie A last season, while also getting on the scoresheet in the Europa League, as the Italian side claimed European glory.

Apps

88

Goals

25

Assists

22

This season, de Ketelaere has taken his game to the next level, already scoring four goals in the Champions League and five in Serie A, as well as a combined 11 assists in both competitions.

The attacking midfielder is gaining more and more admirers, and with him under contract at Atalanta until 2027, the Italian side are said to value de Ketelaere at £40 million, but that could rise even more by the end of the campaign.

His potential arrival at Old Trafford would be an exciting one, as United are crying out for a new number 10 to help Bruno Fernandes, as United are heavily reliant on the Portuguese, and de Ketelaere would ease the burden and could form a very good partnership with Bruno in the 10 positions of Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system.

An ex-Arsenal star is now being targeted by Chelsea, with Stamford Bridge chiefs internally discussing the possibility of a summer swoop for the player.

Chelsea seal 4-0 Premier League win over Southampton

Enzo Maresca would’ve been relieved after the final whistle of their 4-0 win over Southampton in the Premier League on Tuesday evening, with the Blues ending their previously torrid run of back-to-back defeats across all competitions.

Chelsea set for "big push" to sign £50m Premier League player this summer

Todd Boehly and BlueCo are planning ahead.

ByEmilio Galantini Feb 25, 2025

The relegation-threatened Saints offered little in the way of opposition, as Chelsea steamrolled through Ivan Juric’s side to put their hopes of Champions League qualification right back on track.

Leicester City (home)

March 9th

Arsenal (away)

March 16th

Tottenham (home)

April 2nd

Brentford (away)

April 5th

Ipswich Town (home)

April 12th

Goals from Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto, Levi Colwill and Marc Cucurella downed Southampton in what was an imperious attacking display, with the home side attempting 19 shots on goal and enjoying the bulk of possession.

That being said, the match was also subject to protests from supporters over BlueCo’s ownership of the club, with Maresca urging fans to trust the process in response.

“The only thing I can say is that in this moment the fans have to trust,” said Maresca on Chelsea fan protests.

“We’re in the right process and the right direction. Since we started, we’ve been top four most games of the season. The fans have to trust the players. They are doing a huge effort every day to bring this club to the Champions League.”

Chelsea remain trophyless since Clearlake Capital’s takeover of the club in 2022, despite spending millions in the transfer market, but reports suggest that they are set to splash the cash again on bolstering the spine of Maresca’s squad this summer.

Reliable journalist Simon Phillips expects BlueCo to “go big” on a new goalkeeper, defender and striker later this year, with the journalist even claiming Trevoh Chalobah could be offered as a makeweight in Chelsea talks for Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace.

Between the sticks, goalkeeping duo Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen have made notable errors recently, attracting criticism as a result, and the west Londoners are believed to be in the market for a new shot-stopper as a result.

Mike Penders is set to join Chelsea this summer, while Djordje Petrovic and Kepa Arrizabalaga are both out on loan, but that hasn’t stopped them from weighing up more options.

Chelsea hold internal talks over summer deal for Aaron Ramsdale

As per Football Transfers, £120,000-per-week Southampton keeper Aaron Ramsdale is now on Chelsea’s agenda.

It is believed that Chelsea have internally debated the idea of signing Ramsdale this summer, with the Englishman potentially looking for a way out of St. Mary’s if they’re relegated from the top flight.

The 26-year-old was attracting interest from Maresca’s side last summer as an option, but he eventually elected to make the switch down south for guaranteed first-team football after being left out in the cold by Mikel Arteta at Arsenal, in favour of David Raya.

Described as “phenomenal” at times by David Seaman, Ramsdale made 89 appearances in all competitions for the Gunners before leaving last year. As of now, it is unclear how much Southampton would demand to sell if they’re relegated.

2025 is set to be a year of mass change at Manchester City.

In the January transfer market, the Sky Blues actively made their squad younger, spending around £180m on Juma Bah (18), Nico González (23), Abdukodir Khusanov (21), Vitor Reis (19) and Omar Marmoush, the slight exception at 26 years old.

Meantime, 34-year-old captain Kyle Walker was allowed to depart for AC Milan, with a few more Man City stalwarts in their 30s also forecast to depart in the summer.

So, as Pep Guardiola oversees a huge reconfiguration of his squad, do the Citizens have a teenager, tearing it up at youth level, ready to burst on to the first-team scene?

Kevin De Bruyne's decline at Manchester City

Former Liverpool and Tottenham midfielder Jamie Redknapp believes Kevin De Bruyne to be ‘the Premier League’s greatest-ever midfielder’ while, along similar lines, James Westwood of Goal labels him ‘the best playmaker to grace modern English football’.

Well, since arriving from Wolfsburg for a reported fee of £54m in 2015, the Belgian has made 411 appearances for the Citizens, scoring 106 goals and providing 174 assists, winning six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, five EFL Cups and the Champions League.

His tally of 118 means he ranks second in the Premier League for all-time assists, 44 adrift Ryan Giggs’ all-time record, having played 353 fewer matches in the competition.

However, as noted by Richard Martin of Goal, the 33-year-old ‘has reached terminal decline’ and ‘is no longer cut out for the big-time’, underlined by the fact he’s no longer a guaranteed starter in big matches, a fact Sam Lee of the Athletic notes would’ve been ‘unthinkable’ in the past.

So, let’s compare De Bruyne’s season-by-season statistics.

2015/16

42

3,112

16

13

2016/17

49

3,909

7

20

2017/18

52

4,189

12

21

2018/19

32

1,828

6

11

2019/20

48

3,826

16

22

2020/21

40

3,043

10

18

2021/22

45

3,338

19

15

2022/23

49

3,685

10

29

2023/24

26

1,750

6

18

2024/25

29

1,605

4

7

As the table outlines, De Bruyne accumulated at least 3,000 minutes during seven of his first eight seasons at Manchester City, the 2018/19 campaign the sole exception, a year disrupted by a ligament injury in his left knee.

However, both this season and last, the Belgian’s minutes have significantly decreased, albeit he was still able to reach a whopping 18 assists last year, down to just seven this time round, which would be his lowest tally since 2009/10, when he was playing for Genk as a teenager.

Jeff Rueter of the Athletic reports that MLS expansion club San Diego FC are very interested in signing De Bruyne on a free this summer, a move that Joe Lowery of Total Soccer Show labels increasingly likely to happen.

Guardiola has described De Bruyne as “one of the best players in the history of Man City”, underlining that he’ll leave a rather large void should he depart, but do the Sky Blues have a ready-made replacement currently catching the eye at academy level?

Man City's next wonderkid could replace De Bruyne

Chances are, you’ve never heard of Divine Mukasa, but we’re very confident this will change in the near future.

The 17-year-old joined Manchester City in 2023 from West Ham United, and his performances at youth level have been earning rave reviews.

Analyst Ben Mattinson labels the midfielder a “serious talent”, while scout Gianni Bellasi believes he possesses “excellent spatial awareness”, is “calm under pressure” and “thrives” as a number ten, but is versatile enough to play anywhere across midfield or the forward line.

So, let’s assess the teenager’s statistics.

As the table below shows, Mukasa is something of an assist king, hence the comparisons with De Bruyne, starring at U18 Premier League level; only five players have scored more goals than him in that division this season, one of which is teammate Reigan Heskey, son of Emile, who we wrote about last month.

UEFA Youth League

8

0

4

EFL Trophy

2

0

1

U18 Premier League

31

15

19

Premier League 2

2

0

0

FA Youth Cup

9

1

6

Total

52

16

30

This has seen Mukasa given opportunities at higher levels, expected to feature in Man City’s UEFA Youth League quarter-final against AZ Alkmaar next month, converting his spot-kick as the Sky Blues ousted Midtjylland on penalties in an earlier round.

So, the 17-year-old may not be ready just yet to be a regular starter for the Citizens’ first team, but is certainly showing signs that he could be the long-term heir to De Bruyne’s throne.

Man City lost "England’s next superstar" for £0, now he's worth £83m

Man City must regret losing teen star in 2020 who is now shining.

ByRoss Kilvington Mar 11, 2025

Glasgow Rangers haven’t quite had a player who has polarised the supporters like Cyriel Dessers before. Yes, in the past there have been plenty of squad members who have dazzled one minute before falling away the next.

Kris Boyd could be devastating in front of goal, but if he was isolated up front, then it often felt like the Ibrox side was playing with ten men.

Fashion Sakala was another who could be utterly thrilling to watch at times, while failing to score from the simplest of chances in certain games.

The same applies to every club in the country, but Dessers might just be an anomaly.

Cyriel Dessers' polarising time at Rangers

The Nigerian has a decent strike rate for Rangers since joining the club back in the summer of 2023.

Dessers has played 99 games for the club, scoring 44 goals and grabbing 16 assists in the process. That works out as a goal every 2.2 matches. Furthermore, he records a goal contribution once every 1.65 matches for the Light Blues.

How then, can someone with this sort of record be criticised by certain members of the fanbase?

During his first season at Ibrox, the 30-year-old featured in 35 Premiership games, going on to score a more than respectable tally of 16 goals in the process. Dessers averaged 2.9 shots per game in the top flight along with finishing the season with a conversion rate of 16%.

However, he managed to miss 27 big chances during these 35 matches, a staggering statistic and one can only imagine how many goals he would have scored had his composure in front of goal been slightly better.

His output in front of goal has been impressive during the current season too. A total of 22 goals and seven assists have been recorded by the striker in 45 games.

The former Feyenoord hitman certainly has his strengths, but will the new manager seek to use him on a regular basis?

His performance against Fenerbahçe during the first leg of the Europa League last-16 tie was arguably his finest since joining the Gers.

Not only did he score once – with two efforts being disallowed – but Dessers also attempted five dribbles, made one key pass and won 50% of his aerial duels.

The centre-forward didn’t give the defenders a moment’s peace, using his strength and power to get the better of them consistently.

If he can add a few more goals to his tally before the end of the season, it would certainly put him in the shop window ahead of the summer transfer window.

Dessers cost Rangers £4.5m nearly two years ago, but his value has dropped since then.

Cyriel Dessers' transfer value in 2025

Despite putting in some decent displays of late, especially against the Turkish side in Europe, Dessers’ market valuation has dropped.

Indeed, according to Transfermarkt, the player is currently worth €4m (£3m), which is less than the £4.5m that was paid to sign him.

Given the fact he is on the wrong side of 30, this summer may just be the perfect chance to cash in on the striker.

It won’t be the first time the club have sold a player who failed to live up to expectations. Last summer, Philippe Clement sold one of Michael Beale’s signings after a torrid six-month stint at Ibrox.

Where is he now? Shining in the Dutch top flight while being valued more than Dessers.

Rangers flop is worth more than Dessers after leaving Ibrox

Beale made plenty of mistakes during his dismal ten-month spell in charge of the Light Blues, but signing Sam Lammers is one of the worst.

The Dutchman made the move to Scotland for a transfer fee in the region of £3m, joining from Italian side Atalanta.

The forward had scored just six senior goals between the start of the 2020/21 season and joining Rangers three years later. Hardly the prolific figure the club so desperately needed.

As the weeks wore on, it transpired that Lammers was not worth £3m. Far from it. He managed to play 31 games for the Light Blues in all competitions, yet only scored twice and grabbed a solitary assist.

He joined FC Utrecht on loan midway through the season and proved his worth back in his homeland, netting 11 times in just 20 games.

Goals

11

7

Assists

2

1

Shots per game

1.8

2.5

Goal conversion percentage

23%

13%

Big chances created

2

4

Total duels won per game

2

2.6

Last summer, he made the move to Twente and he has continued where he left off in the Eredivisie.

The Dutch side paid a reported £2.5m fee to secure his signature last year, which meant the Gers suffered just a £500k loss on the player.

Should they have given him a second chance, however? For Twente, Lammers has scored nine goals and grabbed two assists across 31 games.

Two of those goals have come in the Europa League, scoring against Manchester United and Nice, impressing in Europe’s premier club competition.

When compared to his positional peers in the competition, Lammers currently ranks in the 11% for progressive passes (3.26), while also ranking in the top 11% for passes into the final third (1.83) and in the top 6% for successful take-on percentage (66.7%).

Perhaps Scotland didn’t suit his style of play, evidenced by the fact he scored just twice during his stay in Glasgow.

Now, having starred in the Netherlands, Lammers is currently valued at €5m (£4m) according to Transfermarkt.

This is clearly due to his improved performances since leaving Rangers, especially in Europe, meaning the forward is worth more than Dessers.

If the 27-year-old had played in a different role for the Light Blues, might things have been different?

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, that’s for sure. If Lammers continues his fine form, he might just be able to seal a move to another big side this summer.

He should be captain: Rangers star has become an "animal" under Ferguson

Rangers secured their first win over Celtic at Parkhead since 2020 on Sunday.

ByRoss Kilvington Mar 17, 2025

West Ham United have now initiated first contacts over a summer deal for a “remarkable” striker, who is attracting a lot of attention from the Premier League, according to a report.

Hammers lacking an out-and-out striker

Back-to-back wins against Arsenal and Leicester City at the end of February have almost certainly staved off any lingering fears about relegation, with Jarrod Bowen bagging the only goal of the game to secure an impressive 1-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium.

However, the Hammers have since gone on to score just one goal in their last two games, with Graham Potter having to make do without an out-and-out striker, given that Niclas Füllkrug and Michail Antonio are out injured.

As such, while Bowen is enjoying another impressive season in front of goal, Potter has identified the need to bring in a new striker this summer, and Strasbourg’s Emanuel Emegha is among the targets, having regularly been amongst the goals in Ligue 1 this term.

West Ham now racing to sign £30m star who's part of best defence in Europe

The Hammers have set their sights on a new centre-back.

ByDominic Lund Mar 17, 2025

Potter has also told the West Ham board he wants them to sign Lille’s Jonathan David, but with Arsenal and Barcelona in the race for the Canadian’s signature, it could be difficult to get a deal done, and the manager may have to move on to other targets.

One option could be Fiorentina’s Moise Kean, with a report from Italy revealing the Hammers have now initiated first contacts over a deal for the Italian, but there may be fierce competition for his signature.

A number of Premier League clubs have expressed an interest in Kean, including Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United, although the transfer is still in the preliminary stages.

Fiorentina are protected by a €52m (£44m) release clause in the striker’s contract, but it is unclear whether they would insist on receiving the full amount.

Kean enjoying "remarkable" Serie A campaign

It is clear to see why some top Premier League clubs are coming forward for the Italy international, given his extremely impressive record in front of goal this season.

Serie A

26

15

Conference League qualifiers

2

2

Conference League

5

2

Italian Cup

1

1

CBS’s Marco Messina has also lauded the Fiorentina marksman for his “remarkable” all-round performances, suggesting he offers a lot more to his team than merely goals.

That said, while the former Everton man was undefeated against West Ham during his time with the Toffees, there will still be concern about his previous stint in the Premier League.

Kean scored just four goals in 39 games for Everton, and while it is clear he has made improvements to his game since then, his goal record in England casts doubt over whether a £44m fee is justifiable.

Looking towards the summer transfer window with their Premier League safety all but sealed, Wolverhampton Wanderers have reportedly set their sights on signing a La Liga star ahead of interest from Manchester City.

Wolves set sights on La Liga midfielder

With Premier League action set to return next week, Wolves must finish what they started and secure their place in England’s top flight for another season. As things stand, Vitor Pereira’s side sit as many as nine points clear of the relegation zone and have the chance to extend that number with games against both Ipswich Town and Leicester City fast approaching.

Once their Premier League place is confirmed, those in the Midlands will have the chance to turn their focus towards what could be a tumultuous summer transfer window, which looks destined to feature a Matheus Cunha exit.

The Brazilian put pen to paper on a new deal at Molineux in January, but ensured that his new contract included a release clause worth £63m. Now, amid interest from the likes of Arsenal, the talented forward seems destined to depart for a hefty fee.

What that departure will do, however, is hand Pereira some much-needed funds in pursuit of one particular La Liga talent. According to Estadio Deportivo, as relayed by Sports Witness, Wolves are now eyeing a move to sign Sergi Altimira from Celta Vigo ahead of Manchester City this summer.

The midfielder reportedly has a release clause worth around €50m (£42m), so certainly won’t come cheap. It is a fee that will become far easier for Wolves to match if Cunha heads for the exit door though.

Best signing since Jimenez: Wolves have struck gold on "sensational" star

Wolves have hit the jackpot with their best signing since they brought Raul Jimenez to the Molineux.

ByDan Emery Mar 26, 2025

As for Altimira, amid interest from both Manchester City and Wolves, he may be forced to make a crucial decision when the summer arrives. Whilst joining up with Pep Guardiola may seem the more prestigious path, those in the Midlands could offer the crucial guarantee of game time.

"Fantastic" Altimira could partner Gomes

In a move that would replace Mario Lemina, who swapped Wolves for Galatasaray in January, Wolves could form an impressive partnership between Joao Gomes and Betis star Altimira. Dubbed “fantastic” by Spanish reporter Mateo Gonzalez earlier this season, the 23-year-old may yet become the first signing of Pereira’s first full season in charge.

Starts

17

27

Progressive Carries

18

43

Progressive Passes

79

130

Ball Recoveries

94

137

Whilst Gomes’ numbers highlight the standards that he’s reached at Wolves and how far Altimira has to come, the Spaniard would undoubtedly learn from the Brazilian if he completed a move to the Midlands this summer.

There’s every reason why Manchester City have their sights set on the young midfielder and securing his signature would be an impressive coup for Wolves this summer.

Luring him away from City’s clutches should prove to be far easier once their Premier League place is confirmed too. Once safety is theirs, Wolves would be wise to make their move to sign the Betis star as soon as possible.

It looks set to be another summer of significant change for Tottenham Hotspur this year.

The Lilywhites didn’t get enough business done last year, and that, combined with a terrible run of injuries, has seen their domestic campaign go from bad to worse this season.

However, it’s not just incomings that could completely alter the team in the coming months, but outgoings, as it remains to be seen whether Ange Postecoglou will keep his job and several key stars have also been linked with an exit.

In fact, the club could even be at risk of losing one of their most important players in a move that would feel reminiscent of Christian Eriksen’s transfer in 2020.

Tottenham's potential exits

Without a doubt, the biggest story concerning an exit from Tottenham at the moment concerns Cristian Romero, as, after being linked with Real Madrid earlier this year, reports from the last few weeks have touted him for a £67m move to Atlético Madrid.

Transfer Focus

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

Worse yet, those same reports have revealed that the Argentine would also like the move and has already held talks with Diego Simeone.

A far less damaging exit, and one likely welcomed by the fans, could be that of Timo Werner, as it was recently revealed that the North Londoners will likely not be making his stay permanent.

The RB Leipzig loanee has been underwhelming at best during his time at the club and has only been able to amass a haul of four goal involvements in 27 games.

However, a far more significant loss would be that of Dejan Kulusevski.

Yes, according to former Tottenham scout Mick Brown, the Swedish international is “going to be interested” in moving back to Serie A this summer.

Speaking to Football Insider, Brown revealed that AC Milan and Napoli are just some of the teams interested in him and that, due to him and other players feeling “frustrated” about how the season has panned out, it’s a move that’s genuinely “feasible even if Tottenham don’t want to let him leave.”

Losing the former Juventus ace would be a disaster for Spurs and a potential repeat of Eriksen’s departure five years ago.

Why Kulusevski could be Eriksen 2.0

There are, unfortunately, a few reasons why Kulusevski’s transfer this summer could mirror Eriksen’s in 2020, and the first is the fact that they are both sensationally gifted creative midfielders.

PL

226

51

65

UCL

29

5

7

UEL

22

5

5

League Cup

13

4

4

FA Cup

15

4

7

For example, during his time in North London, the former Lilywhites star racked up an incredible haul of 69 goals and 88 assists in 305 appearances, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.94 games.

For his part, the “world-class” Stockholm-born maestro, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has scored 25 goals and provided 29 assists in 138 appearances, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.55 games.

However, this season has seen him spend more time in the middle of the park than on the wings for the first time in his Spurs career, which has seen him produce 20 goal involvements in 42 appearances or one every 2.1 games.

The next similarity would be their destinations and the fact that Tottenham did not want to lose them, as the current Manchester United ace left North London to join Inter Milan and Kulusevski’s potential destination looking like it could be the black and red half of the city: AC Milan.

Finally, both players are key members of a Scandinavian national team, with Eriksen amassing a staggering 140 senior caps for Denmark and the Lilywhites star earning 45 for Sweden.

Ultimately, losing Kulusevski this summer would be a disaster for Spurs, so Daniel Levy and Co need to do all they can and give him what he wants to ensure he stays at the club.

He's a £101m star in the making: Spurs hit gold on "monster" Nuno signing

The incredible talent has a bright future at Spurs.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 7, 2025

Liverpool have slowed down over the past few months, no longer performing at the full-throttle, uncontainable pace that saw Arne Slot steamroll through his opponents over the opening months of his Anfield tenure.

The early knockings of the season carried a sort of unfettered freedom within Liverpool’s squad, with rivals eagerly awaiting the almighty collapse after dramatic summer upheaval.

But this hasn’t happened. The Merseysiders are a whisker away from winning the Premier League, dominant and at the summit for the lion’s share of the term. Slot, truly, has enjoyed staggering success as Liverpool’s new driver.

The secret within Slot’s tactical sauce lies in the nuances of his system, his attention to detail, his fixed focus on the minutiae. He differs from his predecessor, Jurgen Klopp, but one shared characteristic is a recognition of elite-level talent, of lifting good players and making them great.

Of course, he also shares with Klopp an understanding that his superstars are not easily replaced. That’s why tying down Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, both drifting toward their mid-thirties, was among new sporting director Richard Hughes’ primary responsibilities are being appointed last year.

The veterans are both brilliant, both two sides of the same coin, but failure to keep the skipper at the club could have been the most damaging outcome for the title-charging Redmen.

The importance of Virgil van Dijk at Liverpool

Van Dijk has extended his Liverpool contract by two years, which will take his Merseyside career to the end of the 2026/27 season, just shy of the decade mark, having won the full gamut, and with maybe even more yet to come.

Van Dijk is 33 but still among the foremost players in Liverpool’s squad. He’s played more minutes than any of his teammates this season (4,077), having completed 92% of his passes and won 68% of his duels, as per Sofascore.

The towering defender will captain Liverpool toward the Premier League title.

He may well be the best defender in the world, but Van Dijk’s influence stretches beyond that of simply a tactical sense, with his leadership and demanding attitude raising the bar and indeed the level of those around him.

We hate to caveat all this with some pragmatism, but the Netherlands captain is nearing his 34th birthday.

He’s still at the highest level, but he’s not getting any younger. Liverpool need to strengthen their rearguard this summer, signing a centre-half capable of succeeding the £400k-per-week titan in a few years.

Liverpool chasing the new Van Dijk

Liverpool need to sign a defender this summer, and they appear to have centred on Dean Huijsen, who is one of the hottest commodities on the market at the moment.

Transfer Focus

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

Bournemouth’s young star, 20, has a £50m release clause in his contract and is expected to be on the move.

According to Fabrizio Romano, though, FSG are determined to sign him, getting ready for a big push as the market prepares to swing open.

Speaking on GIVEMESPORTS’ Market Madness, he said: “Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool. These three clubs are really interested. I think he’s going to stay in the Premier League. There is interest from Real Madrid but at the same time, Madrid internally have not decided if they want to sign a centre-back this summer. The timing is helping the English clubs.”

Why Dean Huijsen has the potential to reach Van Dijk levels

He may be a Spain international, but Huijsen was born a Netherlands native, moving to the Iberian nation as a youth after being offered a scholarship with Malaga during his formative years.

Bournemouth saw an opportunity and pounced last summer, signing Juventus’ academy member in a deal worth £15m, Andoni Iraola identifying the youngster’s modern-angled skill set.

It would be a brave observer to argue against his success on the south coast, with analyst Ben Mattinson commenting that he’s “the most in-demand centre-back in the world” right now.

Two-footed, Huijsen has plied his trade on the left side of Bournemouth’s central defence this season, which suggests that he could be a suitable heir for Van Dijk when that dreaded time comes.

Matches (starts)

33 (33)

27 (22)

Goals

2

2

Assists

1

1

Clean sheets

14

7

Touches*

89.6

60.5

Key passes*

0.3

0.5

Pass completion

92%

85%

Ball recoveries*

3.2

3.4

Tackles + interceptions*

2.6

3.0

Clearances*

5.1

5.9

Duels (won)*

4.8 (68%)

3.9 (56%)

He certainly wears the trappings of an elite-level centre-back, albeit he’s not there yet. Huijsen, like Van Dijk, is an aerially adept defender with a wide tactical remit that incorporates the defensive fundamentals with a forward-passing style that helps create from deep, establishing a wave-like flow.

It’s almost as if he’s tailor-made for a future in Slot’s Liverpool squad. Huijsen is making a key pass once every two Premier League fixtures, which is quite the feat and an illustration of his creative flair, his determination to push play forward.

As per FBref, he also ranks among the top 6% of central defenders in the Premier League this season for shot-creating actions, the top 15% for progressive passes, the top 11% for progressive carries, the top 19% for aerial battles won and the top 2% for both of interceptions and clearances made per 90, further underlining that point.

The 6 foot 6 defender has the rangy, dynamic style to succeed Van Dijk, with such an interesting blend of talent surely suggesting that he could reach the same levels of his countryman, born in Holland as he was.

Given that he could spend a few years absorbing the fruits of Van Dijk’s late labours, this really does feel like one to get excited about.

As big a blow as Trent: Liverpool will rue selling "world-class" star

Trent Alexander-Arnold isn’t the only Liverpool star potentially on the move this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 22, 2025

Glasgow Rangers held their annual player of the year award ceremony on Sunday evening. After a campaign filled with disarray at Ibrox, many would have wondered why the club bothered.

Nevertheless, several first-team players won awards on the night. John Souttar claimed the John Greig CBE Achievement Award while Hamza Igamane won the Men’s Goal of the Season award for his stunning late winner against Celtic at Parkhead in March.

Elsewhere, Cyriel Dessers won the Sam English Bowl for being the club’s top scorer this season. The most deserving award, however, went to Nicolas Raskin, who won both the Men’s Players’ Player of the Year and Men’s Player of the Year awards, with both the players and supporters recognising the Belgian’s achievements.

With the 49ers Enterprises takeover looking like it could go ahead before the start of next season, they will be keen on building as strong a squad as possible.

Financial investment would be welcome, of course, but keeping the club’s best players for a tilt at the Premiership title next term is the main aim.

Having won two awards on the weekend, Raskin is certainly one player who could attract plenty of attention this summer, no doubt about that.

Nico Raskin: Rangers most indispensable player?

Michael Beale may go down as one of the worst managers in the history of the football club, but paying a fee of just £1.5m to bring the young midfielder to Ibrox is arguably the best decision he made while in charge.

He may have struggled to assert his authority during his first few months at the club, but the persistence the former Standard Liege starlet has shown is now beginning to pay off.

After suffering an injury in pre-season last summer, it appeared as though Raskin would never fulfil his potential at Ibrox. Upon his return to the first-team picture in September, the 23-year-old has been a revelation.

Nine goal contributions have been registered across 43 appearances in all competitions, but it was his opener against Celtic in the 3-2 win last month which was the most important.

Raskin even captained the side during the festive season when James Tavernier was sidelined through injury, and he gave a dominating performance in the Old Firm clash at the turn of the year.

The midfielder has shown in the Premiership so far this term. His tenacious nature has certainly been on display, making 2.9 tackles per game and winning an impressive 6.5 total duels per match – a success rate of 57% – which has allowed the player to dominate at the heart of the pitch.

Going forward, however, Raskin has demonstrated his attacking abilities. Not only has he created six big chances for his teammates, but the Belgian also averages one key pass and 0.9 successful dribbles per match in the top flight.

This combination of attacking and defensive traits makes Raskin a prized asset at Ibrox. There will be a time when the club decides to cash in, but he could be the fulcrum of a new-look side at the start of next season.

Who shouldn’t be at the club next season? Well, it may be a bit of a surprise to some.

Rangers' most dispensable player?

While the 49ers will be keen on strengthening the squad, they must also balance the books by moving several players this summer.

It shouldn’t be a difficult decision on who to release and sell, especially with so many players underperforming throughout the 2024/25 campaign.

Chalkboard

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

Dessers may have won the Sam English Bowl, but in reality, the Gers must cash in on him before the start of next season.

Beale may have spent little to bring Raskin to Scotland, but the opposite is true of Dessers’ move to Glasgow. Indeed, he cost around £4.5m from Serie A side Cremonese in the summer of 2023.

Given that Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent had left for free just a month or so before, Beale had to inject some goals into his side ahead of the 2023/24 season. Dessers had netted just ten goals the season prior, hardly the prolific forward Beale required.

Goals

16

13

Assists

4

2

Big chances missed

27

20

Shots per game

2.9

2.2

Goal conversion percentage

16%

19%

A total of 22 goals and nine assists during his maiden year at the Light Blues certainly appears to be a decent tally, but diving deeper, Dessers could have scored a lot more.

In the Premiership alone, he missed a staggering 27 big chances across 35 matches, often taking three or four opportunities to find the back of the net.

This season hasn’t exactly been much of an improvement. 13 domestic goals have been scored thus far, yet he has still missed 20 big chances in the top flight. With four games to go, this figure could still rise.

Scottish analyst John Walker dubbed the centre-forward as “poor” during a pre-season friendly against Manchester United last July. He may offer plenty in terms of work rate and determination, but the Nigerian striker simply isn’t the right man to lead the club into a new era under the 49ers.

The 30-year-old has two years left on his current contract at Rangers, which means this summer represents the perfect chance to try and make back some of the £4.5m that was spent on him two years ago.

Not only that, but he is also one of the highest earners at the Light Blues. Taking home a wage of £27k-per-week, Dessers ranks second behind only Tavernier in terms of earnings.

There is no doubt that freeing up this money in the summer and redirecting it back into bringing one or two younger talents would be the best thing to do.

The club face one of the most important transfer windows in recent memory this summer. Get things right and Celtic could be set for a serious title challenge next season.

On the flip side, however, if the same mistakes are made, Rangers will continue to be left in the wake of their rivals as they motor to a fifth consecutive title.

Rangers must axe £3m flop who has missed more games than Lawrence

Kevin Thelwell has a big job on his hands at Rangers

ByRoss Kilvington Apr 27, 2025

This summer is another opportunity for Chelsea to flex their muscles in the transfer market, with the hierarchy able to back Enzo Maresca in his quest at Stamford Bridge.

The Italian took over the role last summer, joining from Leicester City, still having the opportunity to end the season with a Europa Conference League triumph and a place in the Premier League’s top five.

Should they achieve the latter, they will secure a place in the Champions League once again, finally mixing with Europe’s elite after missing out in each of the last two campaigns.

However, if they are to be competitive in such a competition, the hierarchy will need to hand Maresca the funds to invest and land key squad depth in multiple key areas of the pitch.

One area in particular has been subject to huge interest over the last few weeks, with the board looking to back the manager upon the opening of the summer window.

The latest on Chelsea’s pursuit of a new striker this summer

Despite Nicolas Jackson’s double against Djurgarden on Thursday night, Chelsea have been in the market for a new talisman over the last couple of years.

Liam Delap has been the main striker that’s been on their shortlist in recent months, with his £30m relegation release clause potentially allowing the Blues to get themselves a bargain.

However, another name has recently entered the mix in West London, in the form of Ollie Watkins, who looks set to depart Aston Villa in the coming months, according to FootballTransfers.

The report claims that the Blues have already made an approach for the 29-year-old striker, with the hierarchy willing to pay his £60m asking price set by Unai Emery’s side.

It also reports that Maresca is keen on a move to land the England international, needing to act quickly to avoid missing out, with Arsenal once again in the hunt for his signature.

Why Chelsea’s £60m target could be their own Isak

Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak has been one of the Premier League’s leading talismen in 2024/25, scoring a staggering 22 times in his 31 outings.

The Swede has played a huge role in the Magpies’ ambitions of also finishing within the top five, coming up against the Blues in just over seven days time.

The 25-year-old has been the subject of huge interest from the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Real Madrid over the last few months – with Chelsea even getting themselves positioned in the race.

However, it’s highly unlikely that any side will be able to afford the striker this summer, with Eddie Howe’s side placing a whopping £150m price tag on his shoulders for the upcoming window.

Such a figure could lead to a move for Watkins, with the Englishman being the Blues’ own version of Isak – with FBref labelling him as a similar player to the Swede.

When delving into their respective stats from the ongoing campaign, the 29-year-old has managed to outperform the Magpies star in numerous key areas, showcasing what a superb addition he would be.

Watkins, who’s been labelled “tremendous” by former boss Dean Smith, may have registered fewer combined goals and assists, but has managed a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate – showcasing his clinical ability in the final third.

Games played

35

31

Goals & assists

22

28

Shot-on-target accuracy

43%

42%

Pass accuracy

75%

74%

Aerials won

1.8

0.9

Aerial success rate

43%

34%

Fouls won

1.2

0.4

He’s also managed to complete more of the passes he’s attempted, whilst achieving a higher aerial success rate, offering Maresca an all-round option in forward areas.

The Englishman has showcased over the last few years that he’s more than capable of leading the line for a side who are pushing to land a place within the Champions League places.

£60m may seem a hefty fee for a 29-year-old, but such a fee would be worth every penny if he can fire the Blues to immediate success at the Bridge – allowing the likes of Jackson to work off him in the process.

109 touches, 98% passing: Chelsea may have found a bigger star than George

Chelsea now have one foot in the Europa Conference League final after a 4-1 win over Djurgården last night.

1 ByEthan Lamb May 2, 2025