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As Nottingham Forest go in pursuit of confirming their Champions League qualification, they’ll have to do so without Chris Wood and now one other key man following Nuno Espirito Santo’s latest injury update.

When Chris Wood will return from injury

After returning from international duty with New Zealand carrying a hip injury, Wood was forced to miss Forest’s victory against Manchester United and could yet be forced to sit out of his side’s trip to Midlands rivals Aston Villa this weekend.

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Posts ByDominic Lund Apr 3, 2025

Sat as many as six points clear of fifth place Manchester City, those at the City Ground have enough breathing room to ease their star striker back into Espirito Santo’s side, but will be well aware of the quality that they’ll lack without his goalscoring exploits.

The Forest boss decided to remain coy over whether we can expect Wood’s return to come as soon as this weekend against Villa, telling reporters in his pre-match press conference: “We are assessing. It is going to be day by day. Hopefully tomorrow better and he continues to improve.”

Premier League Golden Boot race

Goals

Mohamed Salah

27

Erling Haaland

21

Alexander Isak

20

Chris Wood

18

Bryan Mbuemo

16

In midweek, it was Anthony Elanga who stepped up to score in place of Wood as he ran the length of the pitch before firing home in emphatic fashion against former club Manchester United.

Against a more formidable Aston Villa side, however, replacing the forward’s quality is likely to prove to be a far tougher task and whether Taiwo Awoniyi can rediscover his best form at the perfect time remains to be seen.

The same can be said for whether Nuno decides to risk Wood, especially following the news that he’ll also be without another key man for this weekend and beyond.

Ola Aina in fitness race to play another game for Forest

Joining Wood on the sidelines, Nottingham Forest are now set to be without Ola Aina against Aston Villa this weekend and potentially the rest of the season. The right-back suffered a calf injury against Manchester United last time out, which has since required a scan to potentially rule him out of the business end of the campaign.

Despite concerns that he could miss the rest of the season, Nuno decided to remain positive over Aina’s calf injury – telling reporters: “He has had the scan and he is going to be out for a while. It is a calf problem. He is not going to be available. It is a big blow. We will miss his quality, his talent and the routines we already have with his teammates. We are going to miss him.

“Some players take more time, others less. We will assess him. He will definitely be out for Villa and for Everton he will be a doubt. Beyond that we will assess him. I am positive that we will see him again (before the end of the season).”

Of course, the Nigerian should be desperate to return given that his current £40k-a-week contract is set to expire this summer. Should he fail to recover in time to feature again this season, victory over Manchester United will have been Aina’s final Nottingham Forest game as things stand.

Celtic can turn their attention away from the Scottish Premiership this weekend as they prepare to take on St. Johnstone in the semi-finals of the SFA Cup.

The Hoops are set to fight it out for a place in the final of the competition in the hope of retaining the trophy that Adam Idah’s last-gasp goal won for them last season.

Brendan Rodgers has the chance to win a domestic treble for the first time in his second spell at Parkhead, as Celtic have already won the League Cup and are on the verge of winning the Premiership.

The Hoops won the top-flight and the SFA Cup in the 2023/24 campaign, and this means that they could end this season with five out of six trophies won in the Northern Irishman’s return to Glasgow.

Rodgers has an excellent squad at his disposal, which has helped him to be as successful as he has been so far, and even the lesser-seen talents have stepped up for the boss in recent weeks.

Maik Nawrocki and Viljami Sinisalo are two rarely-seen stars who have emerged as viable first-team options for the manager over the past month or so.

Maik Nawrocki and Viljami Sinisalo have proven their worth

The Polish defender had not made a single appearance in the Premiership, despite being fit and available, prior to the club’s clash with Rangers before the March international break.

Injuries to Liam Scales and Auston Trusty at the time provided the former Legia Warsaw colossus with opportunities to start against Rangers and Hearts in the top-flight.

Maik Nawrocki

Vs Rangers

Vs Hearts

Minutes

90

90

Clearances

7

9

Blocks

0

3

Tackles + interceptions

5

1

Duels won

7/10

8/9

Dribbled past

0x

0x

Pass accuracy

93%

98%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Nawrocki was outstanding in his two performances in the Premiership, dominating the Rangers and Hearts attackers and making numerous interventions to keep them at bay.

However, the Polish ace has been an unused substitute in the last two league games because Rodgers claimed he prefers to have a naturally left-footed player on that side of the centre-back pairing.

Nawrocki is not the only reserve player who has had opportunities recently, though, as Sinisalo has played the last three league matches in the absence of Kasper Schmeichel, who was injured on international duty with Denmark.

The Finnish shot-stopper saved 71% of the shots on his goal and kept one clean sheet in those three games, proving himself to be a more than able deputy for the Danish number one.

Sinisalo and Nawrocki’s performances show that market value is not the be-all and end-all for players, as they have performed well when called upon despite being two of the lowest-valued players in the squad.

The lowest-valued players in the Celtic squad

Both of those players rank within the bottom ten in the squad for market value, as per Transfermarkt, and that could be down to their lack of minutes on the pitch prior to their recent emergence in the starting XI.

The lowest-valued player at the club is 20-year-old academy graduate goalkeeper Josh Clarke, who is yet to actually make his first-team debut but has featured on the bench, with a valuation of just £64k.

Player

Age

Market value

Josh Clarke

20

£64k

James McCarthy

34

£85k

Scott Bain

33

£171k

Johnny Kenny

21

£193k

James Forrest

33

£429k

Kasper Schmeichel

38

£644k

Viljami Sinisalo

23

£686k

Anthony Ralston

26

£1.2m

Maik Nawrocki

24

£1.7m

Luke McCowan

27

£1.7m

Valuations via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, only six players in the squad are worth less than Sinisalo, and two of them – Clarke and Johnny Kenny – are young prospects.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

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But, as per the earlier point, a low market value does not equal a bad player because there are several factors that go into a valuation that are not performance-based.

Kasper Schmeichel, who is valued lower than both Nawrocki and Sinisalo, is the perfect example because he is only worth £686k, but it is because he is now 38 and his current contract expires in the summer of 2026.

Celtic have hit the jackpot with Kasper Schmeichel

Celtic have hit the jackpot with the Denmark international because they brought him in on a free transfer from Anderlecht last summer, and he has provided phenomenal value on the pitch.

At the age of 38, Schmeichel is not a young talent who is going to make the club a significant profit in the future, like a Matt O’Riley or an Odsonne Edouard did, but his value comes in the form of his performances for the club.

Not every signing made by Celtic has to be with the long-term in mind or with a financial hat on, some signings can be for short-term impact on helping the team to win trophies.

As you can see in the highlights above, Schmeichel has produced quality in the Champions League for Celtic this season, as is further evidenced by his three clean sheets and 0.55 goals prevented in ten outings in the competition.

The experienced colossus, who was dubbed “amazing” by pundit Micah Richards, has also been a star for the Scottish giants in the Premiership in his first year in Glasgow.

24/25 Premiership

Kasper Schmeichel

Appearances

30

Save success rate

77%

Goals conceded

21

Saves

68

Clean sheets

19

Error led to goal

0

Pass accuracy

94%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the former Leicester City stopper has kept a staggering 19 clean sheets in 30 matches for the Hoops in the league, helping them to be on the verge of a fourth successive top-flight title.

These statistics in both the Premiership and the Champions League show that Schmeichel has hit the ground running at Celtic as a star performer, offering a reliable and quality presence between the sticks for Rodgers.

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Posts ByDan Emery Apr 16, 2025

This is why Celtic have hit the jackpot with the free agent signing, despite his low market value, because he has provided all of his value on the pitch.

Arsenal have been handed a boost in the race to sign an “exciting” player for manager Mikel Arteta, with his transfer preference coming to light ahead of what will be a crucial summer window for new sporting director Andrea Berta.

Arsenal planning to make seven major signings this summer

Berta is expected to have a busy debut window at the Emirates Stadium, with as many as seven major signings anticipated, according to some reports.

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Posts ByEmilio Galantini Apr 26, 2025

GiveMeSport believe £300 million could be spent on the acquisition of a new second-choice goalkeeper, full-back, potentially two midfielders, a new left-winger, right-winger and striker, although some of these plans may have changed.

Arsenal’s final Premier League games

Date

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Southampton (away)

May 25th

With Arsenal now attempting to tie Thomas Partey down with a new contract, the need for two central midfielders has been pushed aside for now, but perhaps it could come back to the forefront if an agreement can’t be found on fresh terms.

The need for another left-back is obvious, with Kieran Tierney joining Celtic on a free transfer in July and Oleksandr Zinchenko likely to be sold. Jakub Kiwior can play in that position when required, as can Riccardo Calafiori, but Arteta has admitted that Arsenal need strength in depth if they’re to mount a more successful Premier League title challenge next season.

Gabriel Martinelli has been linked with the exit door and Leandro Trossard’s deal expires in 2026, while both Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz’s injuries exposed Arteta’s lack of depth up front recently – forcing Arsenal to use Mikel Merino as an emergency striker.

Goalkeeping number one David Raya also needs competition to keep him on his toes, and Neto is due to return to Bournemouth when his loan deal expires.

Joan Garcia likely to choose Arsenal move over Man United and Man City

According to Spanish news outlet Sport, promising young Espanyol keeper Joan Garcia remains on the club’s radar under Berta’s leadership.

The 23-year-old agreed personal terms with Arsenal last summer (Fabrizio Romano), but a move ultimately fell through. Garcia is set to have plenty of options again this year after another excellent season at Espanyol, and elite Premier League sides are in the mix, including Arsenal, Man United and Man City.

As per Sport, Garcia is likely to choose a move to Arsenal over City and United, with the Gunners seen as English favourites to sign him. However, Berta must also be wary of competition from abroad, with Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen also keeping firm tabs.

Garcia’s contract includes a £21 million release clause right now, but it could rise to £25 million if a club chooses to snap him up 15 days before the window shuts.

“An uber-athletic keeper with dominant cross-claiming, composure on the ball, standing at 6’3” tall, García is an exciting keeper ready for a step-up,” wrote Football Analyst Ben Mattinson about the keeper.

“García is such an athletic GK. His legs are so powerful and springy enabling him to generate more power to reach the ball. Good flexibility, agility and his proactiveness enable him to be an alert shot-stopper in the box and recover to make double saves.”

Somewhere in Germany, in a Red Bull Group office complex, Jurgen Klopp perhaps unleashed a few fist bumps when Liverpool thrashed Tottenham Hotspur to seal the Premier League trophy.

Klopp’s self-defined “heavy metal football” left with him at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, replaced by something smoother and cooler in the form of Arne Slot.

Both approaches have borne dividends for Liverpool, Klopp creating a dynasty before his successor took the reins and won the Premier League in his first year in the dugout.

Slot has dealt with adversity this term and emerged on top, but now must contend with the loss of Liverpool’s focal creative source, Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Why losing Alexander-Arnold is such a big blow

Alexander-Arnold has been at Liverpool for two decades, moving up and up through the youth floors before knocking on Klopp’s door in the early years of his tenure.

He’s now one of the driving forces behind a sustained period of success at Anfield. Liverpool are a team of many parts, but Trent has been one of the most important cogs in the system, with his peerless passing and eagle-eyed vision making so many opponents pay over the years.

Having won the full gamut, the 26-year-old will depart a fundamental part in putting the Reds back on their perch. He’s played 352 matches for Liverpool, scoring 23 goals and laying on 92 assists.

Real Madrid are the expected destination, and Liverpool now need to find a way to replace their chief playmaker’s output. As per FBref, the Three Lions star ranks among the top 1% of full-backs across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for progressive passes and the top 5% for shot-creating actions per 90.

All-time Most PL Assists by a Defender

Rank

Player

Assists

1

Trent Alexander-Arnold

64

2

Andy Robertson

59

3

Leighton Baines

53

4

Graeme Le Saux

44

5

Kieran Trippier

38

Stats via Premier League

Alexander-Arnold’s one-of-a-kind talent is not something that Liverpool can replicate at right-back. Bradley is an exciting player, but he’s not Trent.

However, Liverpool aren’t against sourcing a new means of elite creativity, having found an interesting solution in another area of the pitch.

Liverpool make proposal for Premier League legend

As per Italian reporter Gianluca Di Marzio, Liverpool have made a surprise contractual offer for Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne, whose deal at the Etihad expires at the end of the season.

While Napoli are also pushing, Liverpool have a financial advantage over the Serie A’s first-placed side and could blow them out of the water, should they continue to insist upon a pre-contract arrangement.

De Bruyne, a boyhood Liverpool fan, turned 33 this year and has been frustrated by injuries in recent seasons, but still retains an artistry to his creative approach, which is among the finest Europe has seen.

Why Liverpool should sign Kevin De Bruyne

De Bruyne may not know where he’s going to end up but he has made it clear that he’s still got mileage in the engine and isn’t against winding up at another Premier League club.

It’s been quite the career in English football for the Belgian, who fell by the wayside as a Chelsea prospect before finding a new home in Belgium and then finding his feet and then some at Manchester City, joining from Wolfsburg in a £55m deal in 2015.

He’s one of the most accomplished and decorated Premier League players of his generation, even described as “one of the greatest midfielders ever” by his manager Pep Guardiola.

De Bruyne might be approaching the twilight years of his career, but he’s certainly still got it. FBref have recorded that he ranks among the top 7% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues and the top 3% for passes attempted, progressive passes and shot-creating actions per 90.

Now, why would Liverpool want to pursue an ageing attacking midfielder such as De Bruyne? After all, Slot already wields the energy of Dominik Szoboszlai, Harvey Elliott’s natural spark.

Well, the answer is obvious. Liverpool need signings, and they need quite a few. Left-back, centre-back. Ryan Gravenberch could do with some competition at number six, and Darwin Nunez certainly needs replacing at the front of the ship.

Sporting director Richard Hughes has got some juggling to do, all right, and bringing De Bruyne over to Liverpool could be a fantastic, stop-gap sort of way to plug a hole and retain the giddy support levels that Alexander-Arnold will be taking with him over to the Santiago Bernabeu.

De Bruyne still has the requisite quality in his locker. As per Sofascore, he’s created 14 big chances in the league this year, despite starting only 17 times. Moreover, he’s averaging over two key passes per game.

This all adds substance to the argument for his arrival. De Bruyne has scored six goals and provided eight assists in all competitions this season, with ten of those 14 contributions coming since the start of the calendar year.

Alexander-Arnold might be leaving, but Liverpool will endure. With surgery required across a range of areas for the Reds, this would be the perfect way to add some new creativity, some Alexander-Arnold levels of creativity to Slot’s team and help him relocate Liverpool’s playmaking hub to a more conventional area in the middle of the park.

For Anfield simply won’t succeed in finding another player like Trent on the right side of the backline.

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Posts ByEthan Lamb May 8, 2025

Manchester City have the chance to end the season with some silverware as they get ready to face Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final this month.

It won’t make up for the fact Pep Guardiola’s men have endured an utterly dismal campaign, but it should give the club a boost heading into the summer.

The Spaniard will be keen on further bolstering his squad when the transfer window opens, building on the successful winter window.

Several players have already been linked with a move to the Etihad, especially as the club needs a replacement for the departing Kevin De Bruyne.

Recently, it appears as though Guardiola is looking to raid one of his former clubs for a midfielder…

Man City's search for a new midfielder

According to reports coming out of Spain, City have made Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong one of their ‘biggest summer targets’, ahead of next season.

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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Liverpool and Arsenal are also showing plenty of interest in the Dutchman. Given Barcelona’s financial situation, they may be forced to listen to offers for the player when the transfer window opens.

With just a year left on his contract, Guardiola will be confident of striking a deal to secure his signature.

Could De Jong become Rodri 2.0 should he make the move to Manchester?

Why Pep could sign the next Rodri for Man City

It is safe to say that City’s campaign was derailed the moment Rodri suffered an ACL injury in September.

He was the fulcrum to the side that won the treble during the 2022/23 season, while playing an important role for Spain as they won Euro 2024 last summer, before subsequently claiming a richly-deserved Ballon d’Or.

With 260 appearances to his name, alongside a plethora of honours, since arriving from Atletico Madrid on a £62.8m deal in 2019, the 28-year-old has made the switch from LaLiga with breathtaking ease.

Lauded by former Barcelona manager Xavi as being “one of the best midfielders in the world” last season, De Jong could follow suit should he make his own switch from Spanish football. The likeness between the pair can also be seen with regard to their statistical similarity across a range of metrics in 2023/24, according to FBref.

Both registered over 90% in pass completion percentage (92.1% vs 92%), while they also won a high percentage of aerial duels (57.5% vs 71.1%) and impressed in the final third too. De Jong averaged 3.3 shot-creating actions per 90, while Rodri averaged 4.82 of the same metric for City.

Frenkie de Jong’s statistics for Barcelona this season

Metric (per 90)

Champions League

La Liga

Accurate passes

45.6

37.9

Key passes

0.4

0.9

Tackles

1.4

0.7

Ball recoveries

2.9

2

Possession lost

4.5

2.9

Via Sofascore

It is clear that De Jong could turn into another Rodri-like signing for City, especially with his performances this season for the La Liga side.

Barcelona are on the brink of reaching the Champions League final for the first time since 2015. In the competition, De Jong ranks in the top 3% for pass completion percentage (93.7%), along with ranking in the top 6% for carries into the final third (3.16) and in the top 5% for tackles in the middle third (1.71) per 90.

These statistics have helped La Blaugrana reach the semi-final stage. A 3-3 draw against Inter Milan in the first leg of the tie was a thriller, but De Jong will be aiming to help his side reach the final.

If City have a genuine chance of signing the Dutchman, they must make their move early.

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Posts ByBen Gray May 2, 2025

With rumours continuing to arrive around Bruno Fernandes’ future, INEOS are now reportedly readying a big-money move to sign a £67m star who could eventually succeed their captain at Manchester United this summer.

Bruno Fernandes concern still lurking

Where Manchester United would be without Fernandes is a scary thought, given that with their captain they’ve fallen as low as 16th in the Premier League. But it’s a reality that they may be forced to live out this summer amid interest from Saudi Arabia.

In a squad full of struggling players, it is Fernandes who has been at the centre of anything good during Ruben Amorim’s six-month stint. Even as those around him have struggled, the Portugal international has managed a stunning 19 goals and 19 assists in all competitions. Take those 38 goal involvements away and the worst-case scenario would become all too realistic for the Red Devils.

With that said, Amorim has made his stance as clear as anything when it comes to Fernandes’ potential departure, recently telling reporters: “Our idea didn’t change. We want to keep the best players – and Bruno is clearly one of the top players in the world. We want Bruno here.

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Posts ByTom Cunningham May 15, 2025

“It is easy to understand [his importance] – not just because of the numbers but the way he plays and the importance he has during his five years here. It’s normal a lot of clubs want a player like Bruno. He is a leader and he’s the captain, so he’s really important. He is a top player, we need top players.”

Man Utd readying Sancet move

Amorim’s stance has not stopped those at Old Trafford from preparing for the worst, however. According to reports in Spain, INEOS are now readying a big-money move to sign Oihan Sancet, who has a release clause worth as much as €80m (£67m) at Athletic Bilbao. The deal, therefore, certainly wouldn’t come cheap, but Sancet’s talent is undeniable nonetheless.

League stats 24/25 (via FBref)

Oihan Sancet

Bruno Fernandes

Starts

18

33

Goals

15

8

Assists

1

9

Key Passes

19

88

With 15 goals to his name in just 18 La Liga starts this season, Sancet is one of few box-crashing midfielders who could replace Fernandes’ goalscoring touch at Old Trafford, albeit whilst lacking the same creative output.

Amorim’s system could be a perfect fit for the Bilbao star too, with his 3-4-2-1 system operating with two No.10 roles. Sancet would, of course, seamlessly slot into one of those roles, but it’s hard not to imagine the partnership that Manchester United could form if they sign the Spaniard and keep hold of Fernandes this summer.

Dubbed “underrated” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Sancet could finally find his place in the spotlight by completing a move to Old Trafford in the coming months.

After overseeing a third-consecutive promotion to make unforgettable history, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have now reportedly put Wrexham in pole position to sign a clinical MLS talent.

Reynolds & McElhenney full of praise for Parkinson

Whilst it’s Reynolds and McElhenney who steal the headlines, Phil Parkinson is one of the main reasons why Wrexham find themselves in the Championship from National League frustration. The experienced manager will forever be a legend at the Welsh club and is now set to take charge of a side in England’s second tier for the first time since Bolton Wanderers in the 2018/2019 campaign.

Reynolds and McElhenney are well aware of their manager’s impact too. The former told reporters after promotion was sealed: “You can look at so many beating hearts at the club but it all goes back to Phil, I mean the leadership in that locker room and we thankfully don’t make football decisions but the faith that the club has in Phil and the community has in him speaks volumes.”

McElhenney then added onto that by saying: “In Phil we trust and Ryan and I always find it silly that at the end of the games it’s us standing here with microphones because we’re not the ones out here on the pitch doing the work.”

Alas, the Hollywood stars are far from finished even after securing a place in the Championship. They, alongside Parkinson, will have their sights set on causing their biggest upset yet in the Championship, and the summer transfer window is likely to play a large part in that.

Wrexham lead Sunusi Ibrahim race

According to GiveMeSport, Reynolds and McElhenney are now leading the race to sign Sunusi Ibrahim for Wrexham this summer. The Montreal talent is reportedly valued between $300,000 and $500,000 (£222,000-£370,000) this summer and could be on his way to English football after struggling for starts in the MLS.

Although there may be some concerns that Ibrahim, 22, has yet to earn his place in Montreal’s starting side, it must be said that it’s not for the want of trying. The Nigerian has scored seven goals in around 1,000 minutes this season – the same as just over 11 games – but has still been forced to settle for a bench role.

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Posts ByTom Cunningham Apr 29, 2025

Whether that starting place would come his way at Wrexham is the big question. Those in Wales can’t risk getting things wrong on the transfer front ahead of their return to England’s second tier and whether they take a risk on an MLS talent remains to be seen.

As ever, of course, Wrexham will be ones to watch when the transfer window swings open amid links to Ibrahim and Cardiff City’s Isaak Davies in recent weeks.

Arsenal continue to be busy planning their next moves, with five days remaining to register new players early doors before the first mini-window shuts on June 10.

Arsenal striker search ongoing with Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko targeted

The consensus among reliable media outlets is that Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko are Arsenal’s two priority striker targets – amid some whispers the club are still debating Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins as well (The Athletic).

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As per the BBC and journalist Sami Mokbel, Arsenal are discussing the frameworks of deals for both Gyokeres and Sesko, before sporting Andrea Berta, Mikel Arteta and the Gunners’ recruitment team formally decide which number nine to go for.

What is absolutely non-negotiable, though, is the club’s glaring for a prolific striker.

Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports)

Money on new signings

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

Arsenal scored just 69 goals in the Premier League last season – a far cry from the 91 and 88 they’d scored in the previous two campaigns – and their struggle to break sides down resulted in them drawing more games than any other side in the top half.

The stats never lie, and these numbers tell a story that Arteta is in dire need of a vocal point up front.

One of Arsenal’s options, Sesko, is fresh off the back of 21 goals in all competitions, and “concrete talks” have been held. According to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, they’re the “only” side to go this far, despite Man United’s interest.

Arsenal could advance Benjamin Sesko deal in "next few days"

Speaking on The Football Terrace this week, reliable journalist Ben Jacobs has shared an update on the north Londoners’ complex pursuit.

Arsenal could advance on a deal for Sesko in the next few days, but it would require Leipzig to be flexible on his asking price. The Gunners ideally want to strike an agreement for around £59 million, whereas his release clause is currently nearer the £70m mark.

“They’ve made contact with Leipzig in the last three days,” said Jacobs.

“They have discussed whether or not there is flexibility beneath the variable release clause, set at the moment around €80 million. That’s why that one’s taking time, because Arsenal want to do Sesko for €70 million, or within that ballpark.

“I think, if Leipzig show flexibility, there is a concrete possibility that one advances in the next few days. The earlier contact with Leipzig in January is very key to this, because they were respectful of the player wanting to see out the season, and of Leipzig not wanting to sell mid-season.

“That strengthens Arsenal’s position in Sesko negotiations, because now Leipzig have a good relationship with Arsenal.”

The Slovenia international is gaining a reputation as a very “underrated” option in the market, and while his goal record is modest, Sesko’s speed, power and height arguably make him tailor-made for Premier League football.

Rangers are expected to be extremely busy during this summer’s transfer market.

New Ibrox manager Russell Martin has a big job on his hands, needing to rebuild an underperforming and, in parts, dysfunctional Rangers squad, so plenty of ins and outs are forecast.

On Wednesday, the Gers will learn the identity of their first opponents of the Martin era, preparing to for their Champions League second qualifying round, coming up as soon as 22/23 July.

Before then, could the Gers secure the services of a “magnificent” new goalkeeper?

Rangers' goalkeeping dilemma

After joining the club two years ago, Jack Butland was Rangers’ undisputed number one, starting 102 of his first 111 matches at the club, described by then-manager Philippe Clement as a “top goalkeeper”, even touted with a potential England recall.

However, Butland made a string of high-profile errors throughout the season, most notably at Old Trafford against Manchester United in January, indicating that the Gers can no longer rely on their shot-stopper.

Thus, following the appointment of Barry Ferguson as interim manager, Butland was eventually dropped, with Liam Kelly given the nod for the Europa League quarter-final against Athletic Club, memorably saving Álex Berenguer’s penalty during the first leg goalless draw at Ibrox.

Nevertheless, the table below underlines that perhaps neither are equipped to be Rangers’ first choice going forward.

Rangers’ GK statistics Premiership 2024/25

Stat

Butland

SPFL rank

Kelly

SPFL rank

Goals against per 90

1.11

3rd

1

2nd

Save %

65.5%

17th

67.9%

11th

Clean sheet %

35.7%

5th

40%

4th

All stats courtesy of FBref

Butland and Kelly’s respective lowly save percentages in the Scottish Premiership this season are the most alarming statistics included in the table above, underlining that Martin should be in the market for a new goalkeeper, so could they land a statement new number one?

Rangers targeting a new goalkeeper

As previously reported by Sports Boom earlier this month, Rangers ‘have entered the race’ to sign Aaron Ramsdale this summer, with Martin hoping to be reunited with the goalkeeper he managed at Southampton just last season.

Ramsdale joined the Saints from Arsenal last summer, having fallen below David Raya in Mikel Arteta’s pecking order, for a reported fee of £25m, but is likely to be on the move again, after Southampton’s catastrophic relegation back to the EFL Championship.

A report in the Times claims that West Ham are targeting a move for Ramsdale this summer, valued at around £20m by the Saints, although his £100,000-per-week salary could see him only move on loan, which is where Rangers could enter the conversation.

So, would Ramsdale be a significant upgrade on Butland? Let’s find out.

Butland vs Ramsdale 24/25 comparison

Statistics

Butland

Ramsdale

Appearances

44

32

Clean sheets

14

4

Goals conceded

51

68

Saves

84

120

Save %

65.3%

66.8%

Post-shot xG – goals conceded

-0.4

-2.5

% of crosses stopped

4.2

5.5

Accurate passes

600

646

Average Sofascore rating

6.98

7.13

Statss via Transfermarkt, FBref & SofaScore

Worth noting that Ramsdale’s statistics are particularly impressive considering he was playing for a historically terrible Southampton side, hence why only Mark Flekken made more saves in this season’s Premier League than he did.

Importantly, his save % is better and he also stops a higher % of crosses, showing he’s more confident in the air.

Journalist Charles Watts labelled Ramsdale’s performances for Arsenal as “magnificent”, with Arteta describing him as “exceptional”, following a man of the match performance at Anfield two seasons ago, words that simply highlight his pedigree.

Thus, it is clear that the England international would be a massive coup for Rangers, if they can bring this deal to life.

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Leeds United have now made an approach to sign a “true gladiator”, who could replace Junior Firpo, according to reporter Ben Jacobs.

Leeds eyeing new defenders amid Firpo uncertainty

Firpo’s Elland Road future has been up in the air for quite some time, and the left-back is now looking increasingly likely to be heading for the exit door this summer, with Real Betis recently submitting a proposal to re-sign their former player.

The Dominican Republic international is out of contract at the end of this month, and Daniel Farke’s side have now started running the rule over potential replacements, with widespread reports suggesting Aston Villa left-back Alex Moreno is of interest.

With Firpo set to leave for nothing, however, there may be a desire to bring in a replacement on a free transfer, and Jacobs has now taken to X to reveal the Whites have now made contact over a deal to sign a new target.

Indeed, according to the GiveMeSport correspondent, Leeds have now made an approach for Atletico Madrid defender Reinildo, who is set to be available on a free transfer upon the expiration of his contract after the upcoming Club World Cup.

There may be competition for the left-back’s signature from within the Premier League, however, with Sunderland and Nottingham Forest making proposals of their own, while the defender also has “options” from Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

"True gladiator" Reinildo has experience at the highest level

The Mozambique international was a bit-part player for Atletico Madrid in the 2024-25 campaign, making 19 La Liga appearances and often being left on the bench, but he is experienced at the top level, having tested himself in the Champions League and Europa League.

Once lauded as a “true gladiator” by scout Jacek Kulig, the 31-year-old’s experience could be useful in helping Leeds avoid the drop next season, but there are some doubts over whether he would be an upgrade on Firpo.

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Posts 2 ByDominic Lund Jun 11, 2025

In fact, the 28-year-old has even outperformed Reinildo across some key metrics for defenders over the past year, despite being more well-known for his ability on the front foot, having picked up 14 goal contributions in the Championship last season.

Average per 90

Reinildo

Junior Firpo

Tackles

2.13

2.27

Clearances

2.82

3.51

Aerials won

0.89

2.10

As such, despite Reinildo’s top-level experience, the evidence doesn’t suggest that he would be a real upgrade on Firpo, and it may be worth Farke giving his current left-back a second chance to prove himself in the Premier League, should a move to Betis fail to materialise.