Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is preparing to table an official bid for one “top” and “underrated” player, which is expected to arrive before the end of this 2024/2025 campaign.

Arsenal plan for summer window amid Champions League campaign

Mikel Arteta and his squad are fresh off the back of a stunning 3-0 win over Real Madrid in the Champions League earlier this week, courtesy of two sublime free-kicks from Declan Rice and a fantastic Mikel Merino finish.

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The historic night in north London gifts Arsenal real hope they could go on to become favourites for their first ever Champions League title, but first they must finish off the 15-time champions of Europe on away turf.

Brentford (home)

April 12th

Ipswich Town (away)

April 20th

Crystal Palace (home)

April 23rd

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

The three-goal cushion hands Arteta’s side major breathing room, but Real have shown a tendency to mount dramatic comebacks in Europe over the years, so you can never discount Los Blancos and Arsenal will need to put in another rip-roaring display.

The semi-finals are within touching distance, and if they go on to win the competition, this campaign would be seen as a major success despite their failed Premier League title challenge, so there is still everything for Arsenal to play for.

That being said, Arteta will be desperate for his team to put in a much more successful shift for the league next season, as Arsenal look to end their two-decade-long-plus wait for a domestic crown.

When it comes to this, Berta’s influence will be crucial, and the transfer chief is said to already have big plans to reinforce the squad this summer.

Arsenal could make up to seven major signings across the squad, as per GiveMeSport, and one of Berta’s key aims is to bring in a prolific striker.

RB Leipzig starlet Benjamin Sesko, Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, Ipswich Town ace Liam Delap and Sporting CP marksman Viktor Gyokeres have all been repeatedly linked, but it is the latter who appears to be gaining most traction.

There are even murmurs that Arsenal are ready to hand Gyokeres a £192,000-per-week contract to join them, while the reliable David Ornstein has claimed the Gunners are growing more and more keen on the Swede.

Andrea Berta preparing Arsenal bid for Viktor Gyokeres

According to an update from Portugal, courtesy of A Bola, club-to-club talks could begin pretty soon as well.

They report that Arsenal are “already” preparing a bid for Gyokeres, which will land before the end of 2024/2025, and Arteta’s side are currently the most “serious candidates” for his signing in England, ahead of Man City and Liverpool.

Given the presence of Real Madrid, Barcelona, PSG and Bayern Munich in the race for his signature, Sporting are convinced that there will be an auction, which could inflate his final price to near his release clause of £87 million – despite his starting price of £61 million.

Gyokeres, for his part, is “attracted” by the Arsenal project and is keen on joining. Berta will also have £202 million to splash on three big-name signings this summer, including the Sporting star, Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams and Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi.

Called a “top player” by Arsenal keeper David Raya, there are those who believe Gyokeres is also “massively underrated”, which is a pretty understandable verdict considering he’s yet to secure a big move despite his ridiculous profiency abroad.

Echoing last season’s heroics, the 26-year-old boasts 44 goals in 44 appearances across all competitions, with another 11 assists to boot. Surely now is the time for clubs to take the plunge.

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

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

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

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

Spurs' potential exits

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

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

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

Transfer Focus

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

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

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

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

Why Romero could be Walker 2.0

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

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

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

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

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

Romero’s Spurs career

Appearances

115

Goals

7

Assists

1

Yellow Cards

29

Second Yellows

3

Red Cards

1

Points per Game

1.69

All Stats via Transfermarkt

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

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

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

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Manchester United will be hoping to claim a first Premier League double over noisy neighbours Manchester City since 2020 at Old Trafford this afternoon.

Ruben Amorim’s side claimed a 2-1 victory over Pep Guardiola’s men at the Etihad back in December, with Amad Diallo’s stoppage-time strike claiming all three points.

However, it hasn’t been all plain sailing for the Red Devils since the Derby Day triumph, losing eight times across all competitions – with the Europa League their only chance of claiming a trophy this season.

A win this afternoon could put a dent in City’s Champions League qualification ambitions, whilst also giving the fanbase a reason to celebrate in what has been a year to forget.

If they are to achieve such a feat, it’s vital that the manager makes a huge call and drops one player from the starting eleven ahead of the big clash in the North West.

Why Garnacho needs to be dropped against City

Attacker Alejandro Garnacho has massively struggled to adapt to Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system since the 40-year-old’s appointment back in early November.

The Argentine likes to operate off the left-hand side and cut onto his favoured foot, but has been unable to do so with the switch which has resulted in him operating more centrally.

His showing on Tuesday night against Nottingham Forest was one to forget, registering six efforts on goal, whilst being unable to get any of them on target – undoubtedly contributing to the defeat.

The 20-year-old also only completed 33% of his attempted dribbles, whilst completing none of the seven crosses he delivered into the box, showcasing his lack of attacking threat at the City Ground.

Given his performance, the manager needs to drop him from his starting eleven against their local rivals and subsequently giving the opportunity for one other star to impress at the Theatre of Dreams.

The player who Amorim must start against City

The lack of attacking threat at United has been evident for some months now, with the Red Devils only scoring 37 times in 30 matches – with only five sides scoring fewer.

Bruno Fernandes remains the club’s top scorer with eight league goals in 2024/25, highlighting the issues Amorim has had to face in his first few months in charge.

However, he could combat some issues by handing a rare start to midfielder Mason Mount, who made his first appearance since December in the defeat in midweek.

The 26-year-old sustained a hamstring injury in the last Manchester derby but could be handed just his third start since the manager took the reins five months ago.

He’s ultimately failed to deliver since his £60m move to Old Trafford back in 2023, with injuries massively plaguing his progress and preventing him from being a regular starter.

However, he is a natural number ten, having the skillset to feature in Amorim’s system behind the striker, making him a better option than Garnacho in such a role.

Mount, who’s previously been labelled “phenomenal” by creator Alex Goldberg, has previously demonstrated glimpses of his quality – most notably in the manager’s second game in charge against Bodo Glimt – unlucky not to get on the scoresheet after hitting the woodwork.

Games played

9

Minutes played

259

Pass accuracy

82%

Chances created

1.4

Shots taken

1.4

Fouls won

1.5

Duels won

4.2

Despite his limited minutes this campaign, the former Chelsea star has produced numerous impressive figures, deserving of an opportunity to adhere himself to the supporters in a huge fixture.

Unsurprisingly, questions have been asked about his long-term future given his injury record, but he needs a consistent run to showcase his talents – with the perfect opportunity coming this afternoon.

It will be a huge boost should the side complete a double over their local rivals, with Mount potentially having a key role to play should he start at Old Trafford.

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Ipswich Town blissfully shrugged off the grim fact that a Premier League relegation looks a nailed-on possibility before their trip to Chelsea on Sunday.

Amazingly, the travelling Tractor Boys raced into a two-goal lead in the first half to stun the Stamford Bridge masses, but a share of the points was the final outcome for a relieved Enzo Maresca.

Kieran McKenna would have taken a lot of positives out of the entertaining 2-2 draw, knowing that some of the personnel who battled well with the Blues will be around next season when promotion is on the agenda.

What Ipswich's rebuild could look like

Away from the likes of Liam Delap and Leif Davis potentially leaving, McKenna will be hopeful that his tight-knit group stays together for the challenge of instantly returning to the Premier League.

He will certainly be calling upon goalkeeper Alex Palmer as his no.1 in the Championship, with the January signing already well accustomed to the second tier with ex-side West Bromwich Albion, on top of tallying up eight crucial saves in West London.

Moreover, faces such as defender Dara O’Shea should continue to start week in week out under McKenna, with the Irishman tallying up a whopping 11 clearances whenever Chelsea bombed forward.

But, with Delap potentially on his way out, how might the attack look?

Well, both George Hirst and Nathan Broadhead could benefit from more game-time by dropping down a division, with the lively pair in and out of the Ipswich starting lineup this season despite amassing 30 goal contributions between them when automatic promotion glory became reality.

Both players did start the contest at Chelsea and shone, but there’s one new standout talent in the Tractor Boys ranks who’s worth even more than the aforementioned duo and he caused the Blues a lot more bother on Sunday.

The "terrific" talent worth more than Hirst & Broadhead

One problem area for Ipswich next season could be down the right wing, with Omari Hutchinson another first-team figure who might fancy a Premier League stay at a different outfit rather than sticking it out at Portman Road.

With the likes of Wes Burns also injury-prone on the right flank, McKenna might well be calling upon ex-West Ham United man Ben Johnson as a first-team regular in this spot more often in the second tier, having been blown away by his quality up against Maresca’s hosts.

Johnson got up and running for Ipswich in terms of goals when powering home a header past Robert Sanchez, with the versatile 25-year-old also picking up his third assist of the Premier League season when helping Julio Enciso to fire home the opener.

These four goal contributions have come about despite Johnson only making 12 starts for the Tractor Boys in league action, but his impactful cameos here and there have made him a definite worthwhile signing, with the Ipswich number 18 entering the building last summer on a shrewd free transfer.

Johnson’s numbers for Ipswich (24/25)

Stat

Johnson

Games played

19

Games started

12

Minutes per game

61 mins

Goals scored

1

Assists

3

Transfer value now

£6.8m

Sourced by Sofascore/ Transfermarkt

Now, off the back of his heroics in Suffolk, the 25-year-old’s transfer value – as per Transfermarkt – stands at a sturdy £7m, which is way above Hirst and Broadhead’s valuations in the process who are both worth a lesser £4m in contrast.

Heralded as “terrific” by football scout Antonio Mango when initially cutting his teeth at West Ham, Johnson could become even more important to the Ipswich cause when relegation is confirmed, with his ability to play all over the pitch a useful asset to have across a bumper 46-game campaign.

Both Hirst and Broadhead will also have key roles to play in the second tier, with the near future at Portman Road not all doom and gloom if their wounds are sutured quickly after their one-season Premier League adventure.

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Queens Park Rangers boss Marti Cifuentes still has work to do as his side look to guarantee their league status, but he already has a keen eye on the summer window with plates beginning to spin in pursuit of one particular target.

Queens Park Rangers look to rebuild in the summer window

Finding themselves above the drop zone but not mathematically safe from relegation, the R’s will be keen to secure their EFL Championship status before a summer window that could provoke changes at Loftus Road.

Tapping into that theme, Sheffield United are set to return for QPR defender Jimmy Dunne in the off-season following their unsuccessful attempt to land the Republic of Ireland international in January.

Setting out their stall, the west Londoners will hold out for a fee of £3 million. Journalist Graeme Bailey recently shed light on the situation, stating: “Don’t be surprised if the Blades come back, but I do know a number of their Championship rivals like him a lot. I really think QPR will find it hard to keep him. He has done really well at right-back.”

Evaluating where QPR arguably need to strengthen most, Cifuentes will surely prioritise brushing up on his forward line due to recent injury troubles involving trio Rayan Kolli, Michael Frey and Zan Celar.

Karamoko Dembele deputised through the middle in their defeat to Stoke City last weekend, though it is clear that experiment should only be short-lived due to his slight stature.

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A dismal run of form has left little to shout about for a support that continues to turn up in their numbers. Still, that could be about to change amid recent developments on the recruitment front.

QPR submit offer for Macarthur FC star Kealey Adamson

Per Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph on X, QPR have made an offer for Macarthur FC full-back Kealey Adamson and will look to fend off competition from several Championship clubs for his signature.

He stated: “QPR have made an offer for Macarthur FC right-back Kealey Adamson. It’s understood the Australia U23 international is attracting interest from a number of clubs in the Championship. Adamson, 22, has two goals & three assists in his 23 appearances in the A League this season.”

Enjoying a rapid rise to prominence, Adamson was commended for his “wonderful” journey by Northern Tigers chief Jason Eagar following his call-up to Australia’s Under-23 side last year.

Making his mark in the A-League, the versatile defender has created 16 chances and completed 32 successful dribbles and occasionally features further up the right-hand side when required under Mile Sterjovski.

With Dunne potentially set to leave this summer, QPR appear to be on the lookout for a replacement to fill any potential void left by the Irishman.

Ipswich Town blissfully shrugged off the grim fact that a Premier League relegation looks a nailed-on possibility before their trip to Chelsea on Sunday.

Amazingly, the travelling Tractor Boys raced into a two-goal lead in the first half to stun the Stamford Bridge masses, but a share of the points was the final outcome for a relieved Enzo Maresca.

Kieran McKenna would have taken a lot of positives out of the entertaining 2-2 draw, knowing that some of the personnel who battled well with the Blues will be around next season when promotion is on the agenda.

What Ipswich's rebuild could look like

Away from the likes of Liam Delap and Leif Davis potentially leaving, McKenna will be hopeful that his tight-knit group stays together for the challenge of instantly returning to the Premier League.

He will certainly be calling upon goalkeeper Alex Palmer as his no.1 in the Championship, with the January signing already well accustomed to the second tier with ex-side West Bromwich Albion, on top of tallying up eight crucial saves in West London.

Moreover, faces such as defender Dara O’Shea should continue to start week in week out under McKenna, with the Irishman tallying up a whopping 11 clearances whenever Chelsea bombed forward.

But, with Delap potentially on his way out, how might the attack look?

Well, both George Hirst and Nathan Broadhead could benefit from more game-time by dropping down a division, with the lively pair in and out of the Ipswich starting lineup this season despite amassing 30 goal contributions between them when automatic promotion glory became reality.

Both players did start the contest at Chelsea and shone, but there’s one new standout talent in the Tractor Boys ranks who’s worth even more than the aforementioned duo and he caused the Blues a lot more bother on Sunday.

The "terrific" talent worth more than Hirst & Broadhead

One problem area for Ipswich next season could be down the right wing, with Omari Hutchinson another first-team figure who might fancy a Premier League stay at a different outfit rather than sticking it out at Portman Road.

With the likes of Wes Burns also injury-prone on the right flank, McKenna might well be calling upon ex-West Ham United man Ben Johnson as a first-team regular in this spot more often in the second tier, having been blown away by his quality up against Maresca’s hosts.

Johnson got up and running for Ipswich in terms of goals when powering home a header past Robert Sanchez, with the versatile 25-year-old also picking up his third assist of the Premier League season when helping Julio Enciso to fire home the opener.

These four goal contributions have come about despite Johnson only making 12 starts for the Tractor Boys in league action, but his impactful cameos here and there have made him a definite worthwhile signing, with the Ipswich number 18 entering the building last summer on a shrewd free transfer.

Games played

19

Games started

12

Minutes per game

61 mins

Goals scored

1

Assists

3

Transfer value now

£6.8m

Now, off the back of his heroics in Suffolk, the 25-year-old’s transfer value – as per Transfermarkt – stands at a sturdy £7m, which is way above Hirst and Broadhead’s valuations in the process who are both worth a lesser £4m in contrast.

Heralded as “terrific” by football scout Antonio Mango when initially cutting his teeth at West Ham, Johnson could become even more important to the Ipswich cause when relegation is confirmed, with his ability to play all over the pitch a useful asset to have across a bumper 46-game campaign.

Both Hirst and Broadhead will also have key roles to play in the second tier, with the near future at Portman Road not all doom and gloom if their wounds are sutured quickly after their one-season Premier League adventure.

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ByKelan Sarson Apr 13, 2025

As the Premier League season enters the final stage, Manchester City are already starting to prepare for the summer transfer window and are now willing to make a £60 million offer to sign a “magician” for Pep Guardiola, according to a recent report.

Man City eye new midfielder to possibly replace Bernardo Silva

Given how busy the Blues were during the January transfer window, it is expected to be even busier at the Etihad this summer, as the club looks to potentially move players on and bring in new, young, and hungrier replacements.

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Over the weekend it was reported that Portuguese giants Benfica are interested in a move to sign Bernardo Silva from City. It is claimed that Silva is willing to take a pay cut on his current wage to secure a move to his homeland and to return to his boyhood club. His exit could be granted by Guardiola and the City chiefs, as his contract expires at the end of next season, and the Blues seemingly have their eyes on both a future successor and an immediate replacement.

According to The Star, City have seen an offer rejected for Sheffield Wednesday’s Caelan-Kole Cadamarteri. The attacker is only 15 years old, but the Blues see him as a player who has a bright future in the game, and the Premier League champions are willing to spend a seven-figure deal on him to secure a transfer. He may not be ready-made for the Premier League, but he could be seen as a long-term replacement for Silva.

Man City prepared to offer £60m to sign “magician”

If Silva does leave the Etihad, the Blues have their eyes on finding a more ready-made replacement as well. According to a report from Spain, Man City have made Tottenham Hotspur’s James Maddison one of their transfer targets ahead of this summer.

The report states that the Blues are looking ahead to the future, and Maddison’s excellent campaign for Spurs hasn’t gone unnoticed by Guardiola. So much so, that City are now willing to offer £60 million to secure the Englishman’s signature. Maddison isn’t seen as a player who can just become a squad player; in fact, they see him as the perfect replacement for Kevin De Bruyne, who is leaving City at the end of the campaign.

Maddison, who has been dubbed a “magician” by Statman Dave in the past, is seen as the perfect player for Guardiola’s system, and the City boss hasn’t hidden his admiration for the player, calling him “quality” this season.

Apps

221

Goals

56

Assists

48

Maddison has netted nine goals and recorded six assists in 30 league games this season, and that has been achieved in an underperforming Tottenham side. The 28-year-old is a key player for Spurs and Ange Postecoglou and is under contract until 2028, but they will consider a possible sale should they receive an offer of £60 million.

Leeds United have given themselves a chance to hit a century of points in the Championship for the first time in club history on the final day against Plymouth Argyle.

Daniel Farke’s side put on a show against Bristol City at Elland Road on Monday night, winning 4-0 under the lights, and are on 97 points heading into the last game of the season.

The West Yorkshire outfit have already secured their place in the Premier League for the 2025/26 campaign, having gained automatic promotion alongside Burnley last week.

There is still the small matter of the league title to battle the Clarets for, however, before attention can fully turn to the upcoming summer transfer window.

After the win over Bristol City, Farke revealed that there will be “tough” and “difficult” decisions to be made on players in the squad, as Leeds look to build a team that is capable of avoiding relegation from the Premier League.

One player who has sparked debate among supporters is Dutch centre-forward Joel Piroe, who is unproven in the top tier of English football.

Why Leeds may have to replace Joel Piroe

The former Swansea City number nine added a seventh assist to his season tally of goal contributions in the 4-0 win over Bristol City on Monday night, with a sumptuous cross-field pass to Wilfried Gnonto.

Piroe is also the top scorer in the Championship, with 19 goals in 45 appearances, and has outperformed his xG of 16.54 – helped by his recent four-goal haul against Stoke City.

Despite all of his contributions in the final third, Norwich City striker Josh Sargent was selected ahead of the Leeds attacker in the official EFL Team of the Season, voted for by the players.

Whilst Piroe has delivered goals and assists for the Whites, the Dutch striker’s all-round game leaves a bit to be desired, and former Blackburn Rovers star Sammie Szomodics is a good example of how difficult the transition from the Championship to the Premier League is if you lack the physical attributes to make the step up.

Championship

Sammie Szmodics (23/24)

Joel Piroe (24/25)

Appearances

44

45

Goals

27

19

Assists

4

7

Duels won per game

2.5

1.6

Ground duel success rate

43%

33%

Aerial duel success rate

30%

20%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Szmodics rarely won duels and was dominated on the deck and in the air by opposition defenders in the second tier, but was still able to notch 31 goal contributions.

In the Premier League, however, the Ireland international has continued to lose the majority of his duels (64%) and has only racked up four goals and zero assists in 19 matches for Ipswich Town.

He has not been able to impose himself on games without the physical attributes, whether that be speed or simply strength in duels, and Piroe, as shown by his statistics in comparison to Szmodics’ in the Championship, could suffer similar problems.

With this in mind, Leeds must consider making a move to land an upgrade on the Dutchman in the summer transfer window, which they could do by swooping for one of their reported targets.

Leeds United's interest in £40m Premier League striker

Back in February, OnTheMinute reported that Leeds United are one of several clubs interested in a deal to sign Rasmus Hojlund from Manchester United.

The report claimed that the Whites are keeping tabs on the Denmark international because Farke believes that he is a player with big potential at Premier League level, and that the manager believes that the star would be interested in a move to Elland Road.

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OnTheMinute added that West Ham United and Juventus have also been linked with a move for the striker, which suggests that Leeds could face significant competition for his services this summer.

The outlet revealed that, despite Hojlund joining the Red Devils for a fee of £72m from Atalanta in the summer of 2023, he could be available for a fee of £40m, although it remains to be seen whether or not the Whites are prepared to spend that much money on him to bolser their squad.

Why Leeds should sign Rasmus Hojlund

The 49ers should push the boat out to land the Denmark international for £40m ahead of the club’s return to the Premier League because he could come in as an immediate upgrade on Piroe for Farke.

Hojlund, despite enduring a difficult season this year, has previously showcased his quality in the Premier League and the Serie A for Manchester United and Atalanta, and boasts the physical attributes to compete at the top level.

Content creator Alice Talks Football described the forward as a “physical monster” who has the “speed” and “athletic qualities” required at Old Trafford, whilst there remain question marks over whether or not Piroe has the athletic qualities required for the top-flight.

Hojlund, playing in a struggling Manchester United side, has scored four goals from 3.84 xG in 20 starts in the Premier League this season, but displayed more quality in the final third in the previous two campaigns.

Rasmus Hojlund

22/23 Serie A

23/24 Premier League

Appearances

32

30

xG

9.47

7.64

Goals

9

10

Assists

2

2

Duels won per game

3.0

2.8

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the 22-year-old attacker scored 19 goals in the Serie A and the Premier League combined, overperforming his xG overall, in those two seasons, whilst winning more duels per game than Piroe has managed in the Championship this term.

These statistics suggest that the potential is there for the young marksman, who U23 scout Antonio Mango claimed has “electric pace”, to be a big goal threat for Leeds, as well as a ‘physical monster’ with his strength, athletism, and speed.

Hojlund could provide Farke’s team with a useful athletic presence at the top end of the pitch, and one that Piroe may not be able to provide based on his lack of mobiltiy at Championship level.

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Therefore, despite his goal return this season, Leeds could land an instant upgrade on the Dutchman by splashing £40m on this Premier League centre-forward.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers could leave the club this summer if he doesn’t get his way with one key thing, according to a worrying update regarding his future.

Rodgers unhappy amid doubts over his future

The Hoops lost 1-0 away to St Johnstone on Sunday afternoon, delaying their Scottish Premiership title triumph, following a disappointing performance. It may still be 13 points clear at the top of the table, but an angry Rodgers made it clear what he thought of the display.

“Bitterly disappointing. It’s a huge credit to St Johnstone and congratulations to them. For us, poor start to the game, but not the first time and this is something for me that we will look at, certainly in the summer. But the start was really poor, it was soft, it was too comfortable in the game. We go behind and then obviously we are much better in the second half. There’s definitely anger. I’m trying to control it.”

There have also been reports over Rodgers’ future at Celtic in recent days, with no guarantee that he will stay put this summer and a return to the Premier League mooted. While the latest reports described him as “content” in his current role, they also claimed he “could quit” if interest arrives from an English club that appeals to him. Now, a fresh update has dropped, further shedding light on the situation.

Rodgers could leave Celtic if wish isn't granted

According to Football Insider, Rodgers will “demand the backing of the Celtic board” this summer, or potentially leave as manager if it doesn’t happen. The 52-year-old “wants to build on the success his side have had this season”, and while this again states that he is happy currently, that “could change if the board fail to meet his demands ahead of the off-season”.

This should certainly act as a warning to Celtic’s board, with Rodgers making it clear that he won’t be amused if funds aren’t made for him to bring in new faces this summer.

While those looking from the outside may look at the Premiership table and ask where there is any great need for reinforcements, bringing a freshness to the Hoops’ squad is always important, especially for a European challenge.

Rodgers will be aware that he hasn’t yet impressed too muchin European competition with Celtic, so he will be desperate to make more of an impression in the Champions League moving forward. It sounds as though the Irishman is more likely to remain at Parkhead than leave, but this latest update should act as a word of warning to those high up at the club.

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Losing Rodgers would be a big blow, given his talent as a manager, and seeing him depart so early in his second spell at the club could see the Hoops lose momentum.

Manchester United have contacted the representatives of an “elite” player ahead of a potential move to Old Trafford this summer, according to a new transfer update.

Man Utd must replace under-fire players

Ruben Amorim will be targeting lots of new signings in various areas of the pitch ahead of next season, bringing in players who can perfectly suit his style of play. There are individuals who simply need to be improved upon if United are to make a big jump up the Premier League table, with an upgrade on Andre Onana required in goal. The Cameroonian has enjoyed good moments in a Red Devils shirt, but he makes too many mistakes to be the long-term option between the sticks.

Similarly, changes are needed down the middle of United’s attack, with neither Rasmus Hojlund nor Joshua Zirkzee looking like they will lead the line competently enough for years to come. Both remain relatively young, in fairness, but a world-class striker would make a huge difference.

Napoli ace Victor Osimhen has been mentioned as an option for Amorim, with the Nigerian expected to leave permanently having spent this season on loan at Galatasaray, while Atalanta’s Mateo Retegui has been backed to come in as an alternative choice.

Man Utd make contact with agents of Joan Garcia

According to Cope [via Sport Witness], Manchester United have made contact with Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia’s entourage over a summer move to the club, as they look to nail an upgrade on Onana.

The 23-year-old is described as a standout player for his side this season, and there is hope that the Red Devils could sign him for as little as £21m, triggering his release clause in the process. That figure will rise to £25.5m in the final 15 days of the summer transfer window, though.

Meanwhile, Espanyol sporting director Fran Garagarza has admitted that a move away isn’t out of the question, saying: “There’s a lot of noise, but nothing is happening. There’s no firm movement like there was in the previous [summer] window. There may be movements because he’s a top-level goalkeeper, but we’re calm, and most importantly, the kid is very calm.”

Garcia could be just what United are looking for this summer, with the Spaniard an impressive young ‘keeper already proving himself is one of Europe’s top leagues. He has started 32 games in La Liga for Espanyol this season, winning five Man of the Match awards from WhoScored in the process, and analyst Ben Mattinson has described him as “elite”.

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His coach, Manolo Gonzalez, has even compared him to Lionel Messi: “Joan Garcia is going to be a global reference, no doubt about it. I really hope so, because he deserves it, both for his ability and for who he is. It’s like when Barcelona had Messi. There were tough matches, and Messi would resolve them. Well, we have that in goal with Joan Garcia.”

All this points towards Garcia being a fantastic addition for United ahead of the 2025/26 season, and given his age, he could be a regular for the next decade if the move is a successful one.