Fulham have now made an approach to sign a “top striker”, having expressed a “concrete interest” in securing his signature, Sky reporter Sacha Tavolieri has revealed on X.
Cottagers eyeing new striker amid Rodrigo Muniz uncertainty
Rodrigo Muniz’s future at Craven Cottage is in doubt, with the striker attracting interest from Premier League rivals Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur, with Thomas Frank’s side said to have made an offer for the Brazilian.
Losing the 24-year-old could be seen as a real blow for Marco Silva, given that he was a regular starter throughout the 2024-25 campaign, picking up a total of eight goals and one assist in 31 Premier League appearances.
However, the Cottagers should be able to pocket a tidy fee for the forward, should they choose to sanction a departure, given that Spurs’ bid was believed to amount to £32m, which would provide them with adequate funds to sign a top replacement.
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In a recent update on X, Tavolieri has now revealed that Fulham are assessing potential options to replace Rodrigo, stating they hold a “concrete interest” in signing KRC Genk striker Tolu Arokodare, but there could be competition for his signature.
Alongside Fulham, a number of other Premier League clubs have made approaches for Arokodare, although the Sky Sports reporter appears to indicate Silva’s side are leading the race for his signature, with a move to Craven Cottage deemed the “most concrete possibility”.
A move may hinge upon Muniz leaving the club, however, with the Nigerian viewed as a “serious option” in the event of the former Flamengo man exiting Craven Cottage this summer.
"Top striker" Arokodare could be ideal replacement for Muniz
The Genk striker is yet to prove himself in one of Europe’s top leagues, but he has maintained a solid goal record throughout his career so far, and the 2024-25 campaign was by far his most prolific to date.
Season
Appearances
Goals
Assists
2021-22
40
13
2
2022-23
34
10
4
2023-24
52
15
3
2024-25
45
23
7
The Nigeria international’s exploits last season suggest that he could now be entering his prime, indicating he could make an instant impact at Craven Cottage, and Genk manager Thorsten Fink clearly holds his star player in very high regard.
Fink said: “Tolu is a top striker. He is fast, strong in the air, left and right-footed, and he scores. What more could you want as a coach? Moreover, he now also carries out his defensive duties, which he didn’t do before.”
With Genk looking to hold out for a fee of £25m, a deal for Arokodare will be affordable, should Fulham decide to cash-in on their Brazilian star this summer, and he has all the tools to be a success in west London.
How are Newcastle United going to fare next season? Around the beginning of the 2024/25 campaign, the skyrocketing ascent under Eddie Howe’s wing had been stunted by a disappointing transfer window, following failure to qualify for European football.
But United marched back into the Champions League despite the setbacks, finishing fifth in the Premier League. Moreover, Howe led his team to glory, to the Carabao Cup.
Now, the focus is on building, particularly towards a move for Anthony Elanga.
Nottingham Forest's Anthony Elanga
Newcastle in talks for new forward
Elanga has been the subject of a rejected £45m offer, Newcastle’s second in as many summers, and while Nottingham Forest don’t want to play ball, redoubled efforts might just seal the Sweden star’s signature.
Such a player is duly needed. Miguel Almiron’s winter flight over the pond has left Jacob Murphy somewhat isolated on the right. Elanga will add athletic quality and widen the dimensions of Howe’s frontline. So could Joao Pedro.
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Indeed, as per GIVEMESPORT, Newcastle remain intent on signing Brighton & Hove Albion star Pedro, who is anticipated to leave the AMEX this summer.
Brighton forward Joao Pedro
Saying that, Tony Bloom isn’t likely to budge on his £60m valuation, the 23-year-old being one of the most talented rising stars in the Premier League, and eyed by Chelsea besides.
However, Newcastle have been engaged in productive talks with the south coasters and could move to the advanced stages soon. Previously, the Toon have been regarded as favourites for Pedro.
What Joao Pedro would bring to Newcastle
Newcastle plan to open contract talks with Alexander Isak as interest mounts in the world-class striker’s services. United’s £200m price tag, frustratingly, hasn’t dissuaded Liverpool and the like from keeping on Isak’s trail.
But the nine is not expected to be going anywhere this year, and Pedro would arrive offering competition and the prospect of a new attacking combination from his shadow or out on the left.
The Brazilian forward, who joined Brighton from Watford for around £30m two years ago, has symmetrically posted 30 goals and ten assists across 70 matches.
Centre-forward
119
34
18
Left winger
40
14
0
Attacking midfield
27
11
1
Right winger
5
0
0
Principally a central player, Pedro is swift and purposeful on the ball, endowed with some of that Seleção style too, hailed by Bundesliga commentator Kevin Hatchard for his “magical” ability on the ball.
Elanga, too, is good on the ball, but he’s also absolutely rapid – the third fastest player in the league as it happens – and he could use his pace to latch onto the technical range that Pedro expands his team’s capacity with.
The fastest & slowest players in the Premier League (2024/25)
As per FBref, the Seagulls star ranks among the top 1% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 17% for passes attempted and shot-creating actions, and the top 12% for progressive passes per 90.
He also created 11 big chances in the Premier League last year, as per Sofascore, and averaged 1.1 dribbles and just shy of five duels per game.
Over at the City Ground, Elanga has coined himself “one of the fastest players in the Premier League”, and no doubt would marry such rapidity with an increased potency in Howe’s system, having impressed with six goals and 11 assists for Forest last year.
If Newcastle can strengthen their ranks with both of these Prem-proven stars, there’s no question that Howe will have the tools to fashion even greater success next year and beyond.
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Newcastle plan to make a series of attacking signings this summer.
The last few seasons have seen Chelsea completely overhaul their squad.
While there have been a few mistakes along the way, it would be fair to say the club look like they now have a team full of incredibly talented players.
Arguably, the most exhilarating of the lot has been Cole Palmer, who, since his arrival from Manchester City in the summer of 2023, has been nothing short of world-class for the Blues.
So, fans should be tremendously excited about recent reports linking the West Londoners to another talent who has won comparisons to the game-changing Englishman.
Chelsea target Premier League signings
Chelsea have already made a few signings from outside England this summer, but, if reports are to be believed, the club are also looking at several stars from the Premier League, such as Joao Pedro and Murillo.
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The former could reportedly cost up to £60m, and while that is a significant amount of money, he was fairly effective in limited minutes this season, scoring ten goals and providing seven assists in 30 appearances, totalling 2,136 minutes.
Murillo, on the other hand, could cost the Blues up to £80m, but given his incredible performances at the back for Nottingham Forest this year, that once again may well be a fee worth paying.
Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson celebrates scoring their first goal with Nikola Milenkovic andMurillo
However, as transformational as these two players could be for Maresca’s side, neither one can really be compared to Palmer, unlike Harvey Elliott.
Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Chelsea are one of a number of teams interested in the Liverpool gem this summer.
Alongside the Blues, the report claims that Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion, Newcastle United, and Borussia Dortmund are all keen on the 22-year-old talent.
However, alongside the intense competition for his services, the West Londoners will have to pay a substantial sum of money to secure their man, with the report claiming that the Reds want at least £50m.
Harvey Elliott celebrates for Liverpool
It could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Elliott’s ability and potential, it’s one Chelsea should fight for, especially as he’s won comparisons to Palmer.
How Elliott compares to Palmer
In this instance, the primary comparison to Palmer originates from FBref, which looked at players in similar positions across Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, and came to the conclusion that the Chelsea gem has been the eighth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to Elliott over the last 365 days.
Non-Penalty Expected G+As
0.69
0.68
Goals per Shot
0.06
0.09
Goals per Shot on Target
0.25
0.25
Key Passes
2.44
2.45
Interceptions
0.24
0.31
Successful Take-On %
44.4%
45.1%
Carries into the Penalty Area
1.22
1.15
The best way to understand how this conclusion was reached is by examining some of the underlying metrics in which the pair ranked incredibly closely, such as non-penalty expected goals plus assists, goals per shot and shot on target, interceptions, carries into the penalty area and more, all per 90.
However, the similarities extend beyond the statistics, as the young Liverpool gem, like the Blues star, has demonstrated an ability to play in multiple positions, with attacking midfield and right-wing his most played.
Moreover, should this transfer go through, then it would be another example of the West Londoners bringing in a younger talent from one of their rivals who’s just not getting the game time he deserves at the moment.
On top of that, even though he’s had to play a bit-part role at Anfield this season, the 22-year-old “machine,” as dubbed by journalist Sam McGuire, has still got some seriously impressive underlying numbers, which suggests that were he given more regular game time, he could seriously explode.
For example, FBref places him in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for non-penalty goals, the top 2% for progressive passes and passes attempted, the top 8% for non-penalty expected goals, and more, all per 90.
Ultimately, there would undoubtedly be some risk in signing Elliott this summer, but there was also plenty of risk in signing an unproven Palmer in 2023, and thanks to their similarities, this feels like a risk Chelsea should take.
Chelsea ready to offer six-year deal to £45m player, talks "now advancing"
The west Londoners could make their next signing soon.
Manchester United have now held talks with the agent of a “sensational” player, who is among the main contenders for the Ballon d’Or, according to a report.
Man Utd's pulling power called into question
The Europa League loss against Tottenham Hotspur means, of course, that Champions League football has once again eluded Man United, and Roy Keane has suggested his former club no longer have the pulling power to attract top players.
However, Old Trafford clearly remains an attractive destination, even though European football will not be on offer next season, with it recently being revealed that Bryan Mbeumo would still prefer to join United ahead of Tottenham Hotspur.
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There have also been suggestions that Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres remains interested in a move, despite the highly sought-after striker attracting the attention of some other top clubs, suggesting the Red Devils clearly still have pulling power.
As such, Man United have now stepped up their pursuit of the highly-regarded Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, making contact with his agent, Enzo Raiola, in order to discuss a potential summer move.
Donnarumma’s PSG contract is set to expire next June, meaning he could be on the move this summer, despite expressing a willingness to remain at the French club, saying: “My priority is to stay at PSG. I don’t think there will be problems in the negotiations.”
Ruben Amorim is keen to bring in an upgrade on Andre Onana, but it could be difficult to tempt the goalkeeper into a move, considering his desire to remain in Paris, and Champions League finalists Inter Milan could provide competition for his signature.
"Sensational" Donnarumma emerges as Ballon d'Or contender
With just one year left on his deal, the Italian could be available for just £34m this summer, which could be a bargain fee for a player vying to win the Ballon d’Or, currently ranked fourth in the 2025 Power Rankings.
In recent times, a player from the Champions League winners has often scooped up the prestigious award, and the 26-year-old kept a clean sheet in PSG’s 5-0 demolition of Inter in the final, although Desire Doue was arguably the star of the show.
Not only did the PSG shot-stopper impress in Munich, but he also caught the eye of Joe Prince-Wright in the semi-final against Arsenal, with the reporter suggesting the Italy international was one of the main reasons his side progressed past the Gunners.
Evidently, Donnarumma could be a fantastic signing for Man United, but it seems unlikely that he would be willing to leave the European champions to move to Old Trafford.
Wolverhampton Wanderers have not only lost Matheus Cunha to Manchester United this summer, but they look set to sell Rayan Ait-Nouri.
Manchester City are reportedly closing in on sealing a deal worth around £36.3m for the left-back and this will leave a gaping hole in the Wolves’ defence.
Wolverhampton Wanderers' RayanAit-Nouri
Vitor Pereira will have money to spend, that’s for certain. The onus now is for him to bring in a suitable replacement for the Algerian star.
Wolves looking to sign Ait-Nouri replacement
With another season in the Premier League to look forward to, it won’t be hard to find a player who can step up to the mark and succeed in England.
Recent reports suggest the club are turning towards Barcelona for a player who could replace Ait-Nouri. How much will he cost, however?
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
It was reported last week that the Old Gold were showing plenty of interest in Barcelona defender Gerard Martin.
Now, a new report from Spain has emerged, stating just how much the Catalan side are willing to sell their left-back for this summer.
Barcelona are open to selling Martin for a fee in the region of €12m (£10m), which is certainly a bargain deal for the Molineux outfit. The report further states that Wolves are set to make the player an offer that will significantly improve his salary.
Having come through the club’s famed La Masia academy, Hansi Flick will make a profit on the defender, and given Barcelona’s still precarious financial situation, it is a deal they are willing to consider.
With money not an issue in this regard, Pereira will be hoping to secure his signature as soon as possible.
Why Wolves must sign Gerard Martin to replace Ait-Nouri
Ait-Nouri ended his most productive season at Wolves since joining in 2020. Across 41 matches in all competitions, he scored five goals and grabbed seven assists.
He also created eight big chances, averaged 1.3 key passes and succeeded with 1.7 dribbles in the top flight for the Old Gold, signifying his attacking presence.
Season
Games
Goals
Assists
2024/25
41
5
7
2023/24
38
3
4
2022/23
27
2
1
2021/22
27
1
6
2020/21
27
1
2
This will be missed, of course, but Martin looks like a ready-made replacement ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
Indeed, he might have only started 11 of his 28 La Liga appearances, but the 23-year-old still managed to score once and provide three assists domestically.
Arguably, his finest performance came against Inter Milan in the Champions League semi-final second leg last month.
Although Barcelona lost the tie, Martin provided two assists during the game, as well as delivering nine crosses, winning seven duels and creating two big chances for the club. Essentially, it was a very Ait-Nouri-esque display.
This impact on the biggest stage of all should convince Pereira that Martin is the correct replacement for the departing Algerian, no doubt about that.
Football writer Zach Lowy recently stated that while Martin was still “quite raw”, he “has tremendous upside and character” and Wolves could be an ideal place for him to become a starting left-back.
For a fee of just £10m, it is unlikely the club will do much better throughout the transfer window.
Wolves could sign dream Cunha replacement who's "Bruno Fernandes-esque"
Wolves are seeking a replacement for Matheus Cunha this summer
Brendan Rodgers made a bold decision in the January transfer window when he sanctioned a Celtic exit for centre-forward Kyogo Furuhashi.
The Japan international completed a £10m move to Ligue 1 side Rennes midway through the season, and shortly after the Hoops had qualified for the play-off round of the Champions League.
Kyogo, who scored 34 goals in all competitions during the 2022/23 campaign, had scored 85 goals in 165 appearances for the Scottish giants before his move to France.
The Japan international had scored 12 goals in 32 appearances in all competitions during the 2024/25 season for Celtic as Rodgers’ first-choice centre-forward more often than not.
However, the Northern Irish head coach opted against a move to sign a direct replacement for him before the end of the January transfer window, instead opting for Daizen Maeda, Adam Idah, and Johnny Kenny as his three striker options.
Celtic could be in the market for a replacement for Kyogo in the summer, though, and Rodgers could be on the lookout for his next Odsonne Edouard.
How Celtic hit the jackpot with Odsonne Edouard
The Scottish giants initially signed the French marksman on loan from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2017, at the start of the current Celtic manager’s second season in charge.
Edouard enjoyed a fairly impressive debut campaign in Glasgow with a return of 11 goals and four assists in 29 appearances in all competitions, including nine goals in 22 outings in the Scottish Premiership.
Former Celtic forward Odsonne Edouard
His form for the Hoops in that season convinced the board to smash the club’s transfer record with a reported £9m swoop for his services in the summer of 2018 to bolster Rodgers’ options at the top end of the pitch.
The Premiership champions were willing to splash the cash to ensure that Edouard remained at Parkhead after his impressive debut campaign, and it turned out to be a terrific decision as they hit the jackpot with the French star.
Edouard scored 22 goals and provided eight assists in 52 appearances in his first season as a permanent Hoops number nine, and followed that up with a stunning return of 29 goals and 17 assists in 47 outings in the next campaign.
Celtic hit the jackpot with the former PSG star because they smashed their transfer record in the hope that he would progress and develop as a player, which is exactly what happened with his rising goal tallies each year.
As you can see in the graphic above, Edouard ended his Celtic career with two Golden Boots and four league titles in four seasons, before signing for Premier League side Crystal Palace in a transfer that could rise to £18.5m.
This shows that the Hoops hit the jackpot with the striker in more ways than one, as they landed a terrific player on the pitch and ended up making a significant profit on him, and they could repeat that masterclass with their interest in a new forward this summer.
Celtic considering club-record swoop for striker
According to the Daily Mail, Celtic are one of a number of teams eyeing up a move to sign Brondby centre-forward Mathias Kvistgaarden in the upcoming summer transfer window.
The report claims that they are facing plenty of competition for the attacker’s signature, as West Ham United and Eintracht Frankfurt are also interested in a swoop for the Danish marksman.
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It states that Celtic enquired about a deal for the 23-year-old star in January, as he is a long-term target for the club, and that they are now weighing up a move to sign him this summer.
The Daily Mail’s report adds that any teams wanting to sign Kvistgaarden this summer would need to shell out a fee in excess of £12m, which would break the £11m transfer record set by Arne Engels’ move from Augsburg last year.
Celtic manager BrendanRodgersbefore the match
It claims that Celtic would have ‘no issue’ with smashing their transfer record to sign the striker, which illustrates the kind of money that Rodgers will have to spend in the coming months.
Whilst the Hoops are now weighing up this club-record move for the Brondby star, is Kvistgaarden worth splashing the cash on ahead of next season?
Why Celtic should sign Mathias Kvistgaarden
The Premiership champions should smash their transfer record to sign the Danish attacker, as he could be Edouard 2.0 at Parkhead, a centre-forward worth breaking the bank for.
As aforementioned, Celtic hit gold with the French striker because they were willing to pay big money to bring the talented attacker to Parkhead on a permanent basis, and they got back the quality that they paid for.
That could also be the case with Kvistgaarden because he is coming off the back of an impressive season in Denmark with Brondby, which has attracted interest from teams in the Bundesliga and the Premier League, as well as Scotland.
The former Denmark U21 international ended the 2024/25 campaign with a return of 23 goals and seven assists in 39 appearances in all competitions, which shows that he provided a huge threat in the final third on a regular basis.
Appearances
29
FotMob rating
7.29
xG
13.99
Goals
17
Chances created
19
Assists
5
As you can see in the table above, Kvistgaarden was particularly lethal in the Superliga with 17 goals from just 13.99 xG, which speaks to his efficiency in front of goal as he can outperform his expected return.
Meanwhile, no Celtic player managed more than 16 goals in the Premiership. Adam Idah (14.77) and Daizen Maeda (14.95) both had a higher xG than the Danish sensation, but only managed 13 and 16 goals respectively, which suggests that the £12m+ striker could come in as an upgrade on what Rodgers currently has at his disposal.
Denmark boss Brian Riemer recently described the attacker as a “tormentor for the opponents’ defences”, and that is backed up by his impressive form for Brondby this season with a constant stream of goals across all competitions.
He could be a tormentor in Scotland in the 2025/26 campaign as a lethal and consistent goalscorer for the Scottish giants, which is why he could be Edouard 2.0 as a club-record signing with the potential to make a huge impact at the top end of the pitch for many seasons to come.
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The summer transfer window does not officially open for business until next month, but that has not stopped Leeds United from being linked to several players ahead of their Premier League campaign.
Daniel Farke and his staff will know that they need to recruit well to give themselves a chance of staying in the top-flight, given that the last six teams to get promoted to the division have all been instantly relegated.
Galatasaray star Gabriel Sara, who previously played for Farke’s former team Norwich, has been linked with a move to Elland Road to bolster the club’s options in the middle of the park.
In midfield, the Whites have also been linked with an interest in West Ham United’s Czechia international Tomas Soucek, as they look for Premier League experience and quality.
On that theme, it was recently reported that Leeds United are leading the race to sign Newcastle United’s experienced centre-forward Callum Wilson on a free transfer this summer.
Why Leeds United should sign Callum Wilson
As aforementioned with Soucek, Leeds may want to add quality and experience to their squad to bolster their chances of avoiding an instant relegation back down to the Championship next season.
Wilson has made 238 appearances in the Premier League in his career, for Bournemouth and Newcastle combined, which means that he would arrive at Elland Road with plenty of relevant experience ahead of their fight to avoid the drop.
Newcastle United's Callum Wilson.
The England international was even relegated with the Cherries in the 2019/20 campaign and knows what not to do in a relegation battle, which could also be vital experience and learning for the current crop of players.
Experience is not the only thing that Wilson would bring to the table if the 49ers strike a deal to sign him from the Magpies, though, as he is also a proven goalscorer who has shown that he can find the back of the net on a regular basis in the Premier League throughout his career.
24/25
2
0
23/24
9
9
22/23
21
18
21/22
16
8
20/21
23
12
19/20
32
8
18/19
29
14
17/18
23
8
16/17
16
6
15/16
9
5
As you can see in the table above, the 33-year-old attacker has had a difficult season this year, with a lack of starts due to Alexander Isak being ahead of him, but he has typically scored goals when given starts at that level, with 27 goals in his last 32 starts.
His best season in a Newcastle shirt came in the 2022/23 campaign when he scored 18 goals from 17.49 xG in 31 appearances and 21 starts in the top-flight.
This shows that Wilson could bring both experience and quality to the Leeds team in the Premier League next season, which is why the 49ers should push to bring the English forward to Elland Road this summer.
If the owners are able to pull off a free transfer swoop for the clinical Newcastle striker, though, it could be the end of Patrick Bamford’s career in West Yorkshire.
Why Wilson signing would be the end of Bamford at Leeds
The 31-year-old striker would be absolutely finished at Elland Road if the 49ers sign Wilson this summer, because the Magpies forward would take up his role in the squad.
He still has one year left on his contract at Leeds, which means that a team would have to come in and pay a transfer fee to sign him this summer, and the attacker recently suggested that he sees his future in the Premier League with the Whites.
When questioned about a move to the MLS, Bamford said: “I feel like playing in the Premier League suits me a little bit more. Last time round I did pretty well when I was there. So I’m hoping to emulate that and try and do the same again.”
However, the former England international did not start any of his 17 appearances in the Championship for Leeds in the 2024/25 campaign, despite Farke describing him as a “top class” player, which does not suggest that he will play a key role moving forward.
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Bamford is essentially the experienced back-up striker in the squad at the moment, given that he turns 32 in September and has played 102 matches in the top-flight in his career, as he has not provided enough quality on the pitch in recent seasons.
Since scoring an eye-catching 17 goals in the Premier League in the 2020/21 campaign under Marcelo Bielsa, the English forward has failed to deliver consistent quality in the final third for the Whites.
24/25 (Championship)
17
0
2.11
0
23/24 (Championship)
33
15
9.52
8
22/23 (Premier League)
28
18
8.61
4
21/22 (Premier League)
9
7
N/A
2
20/21 (Premier League)
38
37
N/A
17
As you can see in the table above, Bamford has only scored 14 league goals in the last four seasons and underperformed his xG in the three seasons that Sofascore has tracked data for that statistic.
Meanwhile, Wilson has scored 35 Premier League goals for Newcastle in the last four campaigns, which illustrates the gulf in quality between the two players, particularly when you consider that half of Bamford’s seasons came in the second tier.
This means that Wilson would come in as an immediate upgrade on Bamford from a footballing perspective, because of his superior goal return whilst playing at a higher level, and that would make him more of a viable option in the top-flight next term.
The Newcastle star would also bring more experience to the table, as he has played over 100 more matches in the Premier League, and this means that the Leeds target could fulfill the experienced back-up striker role far more effectively than the former Chelsea prospect can.
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Therefore, there would not be any need for Bamford at Elland Road next season if the 49ers sign Wilson, who is essentially an upgraded version of the English striker, and that is why his career at the club could be absolutely finished if the Newcastle man arrives in West Yorkshire this summer.
Arne Slot has confirmed that he will rotate his Liverpool team in the Premier League this season (finally) after last weekend’s title triumph.
A host of players have been reduced to bit-part roles under the new management, but the Dutch coach has said that “a few players will come into the team” across the closing weeks of the campaign.
Harvey Elliott, Jarell Quansah and Federico Chiesa will be among those looking for starting berths, but at left-back, it’s more of an uncertain situation.
Liverpool player Harvey Elliott
While Andy Robertson remains Liverpool’s first-choice option to partner Virgil van Dijk on the left side of the backline, his influence has waned this season, mistakes creeping in and attacking contributions heading out.
Several Reds stars are going to be playing for their futures over the final four fixtures, and Kostas Tsimikas is sure to be one of them, having only started seven top-flight games all term. However, four of those have come across seven recent outings.
Liverpool are in the market for a new left-back this summer, and one of the experienced duo is sure to be sold to make room for a fresh face. Milos Kerkez is at the top of the list of contenders.
Liverpool's interest in Milos Kerkez
According to The Times, Liverpool have placed Kerkez right at the top of their shortlist as FSG warm to the idea of signing a new left-back. However, Bournemouth want £45m for the 21-year-old and this is steep.
Described as a “machine” by Sky Sports’ Izzy Christensen, the Cherries defender has all the attributes to become one of Europe’s elite players, and so it’s hardly surprising that his outfit are ready to drive a hard bargain.
Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes was the man who brought Kerkez over to England, signing the Hungarian talent from AZ Alkmaar for £15.5m in July 2023 while he was the transfer operator at the Vitality Stadium.
This season, Kerkez has been a revelation in Andoni Iraola’s system, frightening in attack and secure in defence. His completeness and athleticism have seen him emerge as one of the best young full-backs in Europe.
At £45m, Liverpool will be sure to consider their options, especially with Manchester City and Real Madrid also keen. Hughes has already lined up a potential alternative, and he’s an exciting one at that.
Liverpool chasing new left-back
Kerkez seems to be the top target for the Anfield side, but Liverpool aren’t limited in their scope. Indeed, journalist Bence Bocsak has recently reported that the Premier League champions have been extensively scouting an alternative option.
The man in question is Maxim De Cuyper, with the Club Brugge star impressing Liverpool recruiters with his performances in the Champions League this year. Arsenal are also interested.
De Cuyper, 24, is an active defender with a gas tank that refuses to be depleted. With Robertson hoping to stick around for a few more years, this could be the perfect profile to challenge the Scotland captain for a starting berth, especially since he’s got a rumoured price tag of €25m (£21m).
Why Liverpool should De Cuyper
Firstly, these reports suggest that De Cuyper could be available for less than half the price of Kerkez, and when digging into their respective skill sets, it does look as if the Belgium international has the quality to make just as much of a positive impact in Slot’s team – if not more.
Maxim de Cuyper for Club Brugge.
A fiercely creative defender, De Cuyper ranks among the top 19% of full-backs across divisions similar to the Belgian Pro League for assists, the top 1% for passes attempted and shot-creating actions and the top 4% for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.
FBref have also recorded that De Cuyper’s Champions League performances this season put him alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold from a statistical standpoint, only reinforcing the argument that he would be a perfect fit in Slot’s squad.
Liverpool'sTrentAlexander-Arnoldapplauds fans after the match
When assessing De Cuyper against Kerkez, there’s a case to be made that his playmaking and roundedness make him a better fit than Kerkez, who is a fast-rising defender but a mite expensive at £45m.
The Club Brugge man has hit 11 goal contributions across all competitions this year, notably scoring against Aston Villa in the Champions League. Arsenal want him too, remember, so he’s doing something right.
Of course, the Premier League is objectively of a higher technical calibre than the Belgian Pro League, but the defender’s success in Europe’s elite competition emphasises his chances of hitting the ground running under Slot’s wing in England.
Matches (starts)
34 (31)
34 (34)
Goals
3
2
Assists
5
5
Pass completion
83%
80%
Big chances created
22
7
Key passes*
2.5
1.0
Dribbles (%)*
0.5 (51%)
0.6 (57%)
Ball recoveries*
4.0
4.5
Tackles + interceptions*
2.3
2.6
Clearances*
2.0
2.8
Duels (%)*
3.6 (53%)
4.1 (53%)
It’s interesting that the Belgian should produce such scintillating playmaking numbers – furthering the argument that he’s Trent-like – with his underlying metrics across other areas also suggesting that he could be a more complete and effective left-back upgrade than Kerkez.
Harking back to Robertson, the 31-year-old has failed to register a single goal contribution in the Premier League this season, so it’s no wonder Slot and Hughes are determined to improve that area of the pitch. De Cuyper has the traits that suggest he is the perfect successor.
This isn’t to say that Kerkez is ineffective from a playmaking perspective; far from it, the Hungarian has showcased an exciting desire to advance attacking play on England’s south coast this term.
But De Cuyper has that special something that could charge Liverpool’s left lane to another level entirely. Is it any wonder that talent scout Jacek Kulig has described him as “one of the best left-backs currently playing outside the (Europe’s) top five leagues.”
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Liverpool need to find a way to stay ahead in creative metrics next season, especially if Alexander-Arnold leaves for pastures new in sunny Spain. Bringing in De Cuyper would be the perfect way to enforce this; he might even prove a better signing than Kerkez, and for a portion of the price.
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Nuno Espirito Santo will be hoping that his Nottingham Forest side can put their disappointment of losing the FA Cup semi-final to good use in returning to Premier League action full of fight.
After all, Forest only find themselves outside of the coveted top five positions in the division on goal difference, with clashes to come in May giving them the perfect opportunity to clinch Champions League football over rivals Chelsea and Aston Villa.
Nottingham Forest managerNunoEspirito Santo is seen before the match
To confirm a spot amongst Europe’s elite, however, the ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers boss will know he needs everyone performing at their optimum, with Murillo needing to put in even more dominant displays at the back to ensure victories are forthcoming.
Murillo's impressive season at Forest so far
The City Ground hasn’t had the reputation this season for producing jaw-dropping spectacles in terms of goals, with a low 24 goals being scored in total by the Tricky Trees across 16 home contests.
But, the resilient defensive displays consistently on show will have pleased the Forest masses watching on, away from the entertainment levels being hit-and-miss, with Murillo in the heart of the defence constantly leading by example.
The Sao Paulo-born centre-back is the dictionary definition of a player who plays with his heart on his sleeve, leading to Murillo averaging a hefty 6.7 clearances on average this season in the Premier League.
Collecting 11 clean sheets across 32 league outings too, the £15m once forked out on his signature back in the summer of 2023 continues to look like an unbelievable bargain, with the 22-year-old’s valuation now standing at a whopping £46m as per Transfermarkt.
Forest will aim to hold onto Murillo for as long as they can, with another top performer for the season unfortunately tipped to move away from Nottingham as Manchester City come sniffing about.
The "sensational" star who could be Forest's next Johnson
This wouldn’t be new territory for the Garibaldis if another of their standout figures were to up and leave for more luxurious pastures, considering Brennan Johnson departed the club in September of 2023 for a chance at Tottenham Hotspur.
Spurs would have to cough up a significant £47.5m to land the tricky Welshman, but that price tag was more than justified when you take into account Johnson’s eight-goal heroics during Forest’s debut season back amongst the top tier’s elite.
Well, Morgan Gibbs-White could soon follow Johnson’s upward trajectory if reports are to be believed, with Manchester City – the side who just knocked Forest out of the FA Cup – reportedly eyeing up a move for another of Espirito Santo’s standout talents.
talkSPORT have previously suggested that it would take a ridiculous fee of £100m for Forest to consider parting ways with their classy number ten, though, meaning he’s now worth even more than the aforementioned warrior figure of Murillo, and for good reason.
Games played
113
Goals scored
16
Assists
27
Value when joining
£25m
Value now
£70m
Increase in %
180%
The former Wolves youth product turned Tricky Trees royalty has really come into his own this campaign, with the explosive attacking midfielder up to a stunning 14 goal contributions in all competitions, leading to Pep Guardiola and Co circling.
Purchased for just £25m from Wolves, Gibbs-White is yet another example in Espirito Santo’s camp of smart and well-thought-out buys paying off in the long-term, with Murillo’s original £15m price-tag looking like peanuts too.
Of course, the Champions League chasers will want to keep their “sensational” – as he’s been previously lauded by football writer Louis Wheeldon – midfielder around for as long as possible.
But, the allure of the Etihad could prove too strong to turn down, particularly if Forest slip up in their pursuit of the top five.
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Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has had to think somewhat outside of the box in recent weeks in the absence of first-choice centre-forward Nicolas Jackson.
The 23-year-old Senegal international has been out injured with a hamstring injury that has kept him out of the last five Premier League games.
Although the Chelsea boss confirmed he will be available for selection against Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday night, it remains to be seen if he will start. Replacing him has not been easy; the 23-year-old has nine goals and five assists in 23 Premier League games this term.
One of the players tasked with stepping up in the absence of Jackson was Christopher Nkunku.
The latest on Christopher Nkunku’s Chelsea future
Nkunku’s numbers this season across competitions are more than reasonable. The Frenchman, who is a graduate of Paris Saint-Germain’s academy, has scored 14 times and grabbed five assists in 38 games.
Christopher Nkunku scores for Chelsea
However, just three of those strikes and two assists have come in the Premier League in 25 games. In the run of five games without Jackson, the former RB Leipzig star has scored and assisted just two goals, both of which came against Southampton.
However, his form across the season could well be a concern for the Blues. This could lead to Nkunku’s departure in the summer transfer window. A report from GiveMeSport at the end of March suggests the Frenchman will leave Stamford Bridge.
He was close to leaving the club in January for a fee reported to be £60m. A return to the Bundesliga was on the cards, with Bayern Munich supposedly interested. Now, it seems a departure is inevitable.
Christopher Nkunku in action for Chelsea
If he is to leave the club in the summer, perhaps Chelsea already have their dream replacement waiting in the wings, in the form of a young talent who is currently out on loan.
Chelsea’s in-house Nkunku replacement
Chelsea have infamously become known for buying lots of elite young talent over the past few summers and keeping them on the backburner until they are ready to make an impact at first-team level.
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Well, one of the best examples of this is perhaps 19-year-old striker Deivid Washington. The Brazilian is currently on loan at Santos, the club from which he was originally bought from by the Blues back in August 2023.
He has only played two games and 28 minutes in his second spell at the Brazilian giants, and is yet to find the back of the net. However, he did score two goals during his initial stint at the club, after breaking through the esteemed academy that produced the legendary Neymar, now a teammate of Washington.
Santos strikerDeivid Washington.
The attacker, who can play as a centre-forward, out wide on the left or just behind the striker, has made a real impression for the Blues’ youth team so far.
Across two seasons, he has scored ten goals and grabbed an assist in 18 games.
Premier League 2 (2023/24)
9
5
0
Premier League 2 playoffs (2023/24)
2
1
0
EFL Trophy (2024/25)
2
0
0
Premier League 2 (2024/25)
5
4
1
He has also shown goal-scoring nous for Brazil’s under-20s. He has been handed eight caps at that level of international football, scoring three goals, including a fantastic diving header against Ecuador.
The Santos academy graduate was once described as a “highly talented” star by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, and this certainly rings true when looking at what he has achieved in academy football so far.
With more exposure to senior football as a Santos player and, in the longer term, in a Chelsea shirt, the Blues could have an excellent player on their hands. He has already played three times for the West Londoners, and will surely hope to be given even more of an opportunity.
He is certainly a player Chelsea fans can get excited about, and if Nkunku does depart this summer, then Maresca might have a ready-made replacement waiting for his chance in 2026.
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