With Fabio Paratici set to return to the club, Tottenham Hotspur are now reportedly in constant contact with an impressive defender who’s also found himself on the radar of Real Madrid.
Fabio Paratici set for Tottenham return
Having left the North London club in 2023 following a two-and-a-half-year ban by FIFA which he is still serving, Paratici has reportedly agreed to return to Tottenham. The Lilywhites have plenty of work to do this summer and the return of an experienced sporting director may well go a long way towards things finally changing for the better under Ange Postecoglou.
How much room Spurs have to manoeuvre in the transfer window is the big question. Should they miss out on winning the Europa League and, subsequently, a place in next season’s Champions League, those in North London are unlikely to have a large budget to spend. After taking one leg in the final with a 3-1 first leg victory over Bodo/Glimt, however, Europa League victory is still very much a possibility.
Many will be quick to assume that a place in Bilbao is now firmly in Spurs’ grasp and Postecoglou reiterated that a repeat of his side’s performance on Thursday night next week will see them advance.
He told reporters: “Obviously they scored the goal late, which doesn’t reflect our dominance in the game, but if we repeat that performance next week it’ll be enough for us to get through.
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“Yeah, I think it puts us in a good position. I thought the players were outstanding today, I thought our performance was everything it needed to be, really well organised and disciplined defensively and really calm going forward and created good opportunities for ourselves.”
Europa League victory would no doubt help to turn the narrative of their season on its head, perhaps saving Postecoglou’s job in the process and even luring top transfer targets to the club.
Tottenham in constant contact with Jonathan Tah
According to The Boot Room, Tottenham are in constant contact with Jonathan Tah over a summer switch following the expiry of his current Bayer Leverkusen deal at the end of the season. The Lilywhites are far from alone, however, with Manchester United and now even Real Madrid also looking to convince the defender into a move.
As Paratici plots his first transfer back, those in North London could end the summer having landed a true bargain. The Leverkusen defender played a pivotal part in last season’s invincible domestic double and has impressed once again throughout the current campaign.
A player who’s earned plenty of praise over the years, former Germany boss Joachim Low told reporters after handing Tah his international debut at the beginning of his career: “He’s a young player with a lot of potential. He’s physically strong and very quick. Everything is possible.”
Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy is facing stiff competition from Saudi Arabia in pursuit of his reported top target to replace Ange Postecoglou, with the tactician said to be keen on a move to the Middle East.
Tottenham are very likely to replace Ange Postecoglou this summer
All signs are currently pointing towards Spurs’ final fixtures of 2024/2025 being Postecoglou’s last in charge.
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The reliable David Ornstein is now among the media sources to report that Postecoglou is highly likely to depart Tottenham, regardless of their success in the Europa League final, following links to numerous managerial candidates to succeed the Australian.
Son Heung-min
7.05
Pedro Porro
6.98
James Maddison
6.98
Dominic Solanke
6.88
Dejan Kulusevski
6.83
via WhoScored
Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth), Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace), Thomas Frank (Brentford), Scott Parker (Burnley), Jürgen Klopp (Head of Global, Red Bull), Niko Kovač (Borussia Dortmund) and Edin Terzić (free agent) are all reportedly managers attracting interest from Tottenham ahead of next season, following their tepid Premier League campaign.
Spurs broke their record for most Premier League losses in a single season after their 2-0 defeat at home to Crystal Palace last weekend, with the Lilywhites also sitting a lowly 17th in the table, just one spot above the already-filled relegation zone.
Postecoglou has been criticised for stubbornness over changing his approach in games this season, with former Man United keeper Peter Schmeichel slamming this aspect of his coaching style after a 6-3 defeat to Liverpool.
“It’s on [Postecoglou],” Schmeichel told Premier League Productions.
“He’s playing to his principles. Today it was crazy, the high line, the space they left behind, they’re not playing with a ‘keeper who’s comfortable cleaning up behind. You can’t play a system the players can’t play because of principle. For that they’ve conceded three on Thursday and six today.
“When you look at the table, they’re not on the front page, they’re on the second page. Tottenham are not supposed to be on the second page, it’s because of the way they play.
“The stubbornness of wanting to play that way, they got what they deserved, and it could have been a lot worse.”
Tottenham managerial target Marco Silva eyeing move to Saudi Arabia
Understandably, a large section of supporters wish to see change, even if their season could still be saved by a potential first trophy in 17 years and a place in the Champions League draw next term, through victory in the Europa League final on May 21.
According to Sky Sports reporter Gianluca Di Marzio recently, Fulham boss Marco Silva is Tottenham’s “first” choice to replace Postecoglou, with the Portuguese now in pole position on Levy’s managerial shortlist.
Fulham manager Marco Silva
However, another update, courtesy of Pete O’Rourke for Football Insider, claims Spurs won’t exactly have a free run at hiring the 47-year-old.
As per O’Rourke, Silva is now keen on a move to Saudi Arabia amid Tottenham’s serious interest, and Saudi sides are “ready to move” for the tactician. Al-Hilal are named as one of the SPL teams expressing a real fondness, and they could feasibly offer him mega-money to vacate Europe.
It is unclear whether Levy would be willing to do the same thing, but he’ll certainly be keen to avoid a lengthy managerial saga akin to their drawn-out search for José Mourinho’s successor in 2021.
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.
It is no understatement to say that Glasgow Rangers require a major overhaul this summer.
Not just in the playing squad or staff members, but in mentality. Since the Ibrox side won the Premiership title in 2021, the Gers have won only two trophies since.
In comparison, Celtic have won every available league title on offer and have clinched a domestic double this season, although they did lose to Aberdeen in the SFA Cup final.
Rangers interim managerBarryFergusonbefore the match
Things have to change at Ibrox, and fast. The 49ers’ involvement should give those at the club a boost, but the priority is a new manager.
The likes of Steven Gerrard and Davide Ancelotti have been linked with a move to Glasgow, while several other candidates have been touted for the vacant role.
Whoever becomes the next permanent manager will have work to do in order to improve the first-team squad this summer.
There are various positions that need urgent improvement, no doubt about that. Furthermore, several players could be sold to raise funds and help reduce the wage bill.
Cyriel Dessers may finish the season as the top scorer in the Premiership, but if a reasonable offer comes in this summer, the club should cash in.
Why Rangers must sell Cyriel Dessers
Never has a Rangers player exuded more Jekyll and Hyde-like qualities than Dessers. One minute, he is simply unplayable, causing chaos for opposition defenders domestically and in Europe.
Next, he struggles with the easiest of chances and offers next to nothing in the final third.
There is no doubt about his record in front of goal for the Light Blues since he joined in a deal worth £4.5m from Cremonese in the summer of 2023. Indeed, the Nigerian striker has scored 51 goals and grabbed 16 assists across 109 games for the club during his first two seasons.
On the surface, this is an impressive record in front of goal. He has shone in Europe, with his display against Fenerbahce one of the finest by a Gers forward in quite a while.
Unfortunately, these performances are few and far between. Throughout the 2023/24 league season, Dessers missed a staggering 27 big chances across 35 matches.
Over the same number of games in 2024/25, he missed 21 big chances, a slight improvement, but still not great.
Cyriel Dessers’ league stats for Rangers
Metric
2023/24
2024/25
Goals
16
18
Assists
4
2
Shots per game
2.9
2.4
Big chances missed
27
21
Goal conversion percentage
16%
22%
Via Sofascore
During the winter transfer window, several clubs were linked with making a move for Dessers. Saint-Étienne, Cagliari, and Empoli were all showing interest in securing a move for the 30-year-old.
Much to the disappointment of large sections of the support, the centre-forward remained in Glasgow until the end of the season at least.
He has two years left on his current contract, which suggests now would be the ideal time to cash in and secure a decent fee for the player.
This could be used to fund future signings, especially a couple of younger players with a higher ceiling for growth.
Dessers shouldn’t be the only player to be moved on this summer by the new manager. Nedim Bajrami is reportedly attracting interest from afar, and now might be a good time to part ways with the Albanian.
Nedim Bajrami has offers on the table
According to reports in Albania (as relayed by Glasgow Times), Bajrami has two options on the table with regard to a summer exit away from the Light Blues.
One comes from the Italian top flight, while the other is from the Bundesliga, and the report states that the midfielder is likely to leave Glasgow when the transfer window finally opens.
Much will depend on the price, however, as the 49ers will be keen on recouping much of the £3.4m that was spent on the Albanian last summer.
It’s safe to say he hasn’t exactly enjoyed the most productive of campaigns in Scotland, despite arriving with plenty of hype.
What exactly went wrong with Bajrami?
Why Rangers must sell Nedim Bajrami this summer
The 26-year-old had impressed for his country at Euro 2024, scoring an incredible opener against Italy after just 23 seconds.
A move to Ibrox in the final days of the summer transfer window looked like a real coup for Philippe Clement.
What looked like a potentially transformative signing for the club eventually turned into a waste of money. Across 44 games for Rangers, he only scored five goals and chipped in with four assists, showing that he has rarely made a big impact at the top end of the pitch.
Considering the sum of money the club had paid, this was hardly the best of returns, especially following a decent start to life in Glasgow.
The midfielder only started 15 Premiership matches, creating only four big chances, averaging one key pass and succeeding with just one dribble per game in the top flight.
In Europe, Bajrami didn’t fare much better. Indeed, he could only muster a single goal from 11 appearances, winning less than half of his total duels per game and averaging 1.3 key passes per game, which shows how ineffective he has been on the European stage since his move to Ibrox.
Bajrami
The nadir came against Queen’s Park in the Scottish Cup back in February. Rangers suffered a shock 1-0 home defeat – arguably one of their worst domestic losses – but Bajrami was subbed at half-time following a dismal display.
Stevie Clifford, who runs Four Lads Had a Dream, criticised the Albanian a month before, saying:
“I’ll highlight it again, it’s not singling him out, but Nedim Bajrami is not offering enough at all.
“We need him to influence games & be involved, largely anonymous so far, again.
“£4m is big money to do it in these type of games & he’s miles off it so far.”
All of these points point towards a likely summer exit when the window opens next month. Should Rangers receive a bid that is deemed acceptable, then they must be ready to cash in.
He didn’t live up to initial expectations, and regardless of who the new manager is, Bajrami’s future already looks settled with the offers that are on the table from other clubs.
Hopefully, he can make better signings this summer.
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Rangers must make a move for a current Premier League striker 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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While they were less successful on the trophy front than the current Tottenham Hotspur team, it would be fair to say the side Mauricio Pochettino built was the best the club has seen in the modern era.
From front to back, the team was filled with simply sensational players who really should have won at least a couple of major honours during their time in North London.
The likes of Harry Kane and a younger Son Heung-min would give opposition defenders nightmares, while Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld did the same to opposition attackers.
However, arguably, the most talented player in that squad was Mousa Dembélé, and now it looks like Ange Postecoglou might be brewing his own version of the Belgian.
Mousa Dembélé's Spurs career
Dembélé joined Tottenham in the summer of 2012 from fellow Premier League side Fulham for a fee of just £15m, which, in retrospect, has to be looked at as one of the deals of the century.
Former Tottenham midfielder Mousa Dembele.
It didn’t take long at all for the former Cottagers star to settle into life with the Lilywhites, scoring his first goal for the club on his debut – a 1-1 draw at home to Norwich City.
He finished his first campaign in North London with two goals and five assists to his name in 44 appearances, and while he looked the part, he only improved when Pochettino took charge ahead of the following season.
Under the Argentine, the Antwerpen-born titan became the all-action “monster,” as dubbed by Eric Dier, that he’s remembered as today.
It was practically impossible to get the ball off of him, and if he didn’t have it, you could be sure that he’d do everything he could to win it off the opposition – usually to great success.
The 37-year-old icon was the engine of that Spurs side, and to say his teammates appreciated him would be a massive understatement, with Kyle Walker once describing him as “the best player I’ve ever seen play football” and Harry Kane simply calling him “incredible.”
After making 249 appearances for the club, in which he scored ten goals and provided ten assists, the midfield maestro finally left in January 2019 to join the Chinese Super League.
Appearances
249
Starts
181
Minutes
16115′
Goals
10
Assists
10
Goal Involvements per Match
0.08
Minutes per Goal Involvement
805.75
However, some of his teammates would have liked him to stay for the rest of that season, as Kieran Trippier would later claim that Spurs could have won the Champions League with him still in the side.
He might have done what the club’s new Dembélé did for them against Manchester United on Wednesday night.
The Spurs star becoming their new Dembélé
Okay, so the first thing to say here is that we aren’t arguing that anyone in the current Spurs squad is as good a player as Dembélé was, as that would be absurd.
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However, there is one youngster who starred on Wednesday night and has some of the characteristics that could see him develop into the team’s modern version of the Belgian: Pape Matar Sarr.
The Senegalese international joined Tottenham under Nuno Espírito Santo’s reign for around £14.6m, and after spending the 2021/22 season on loan with the French side, made his way to North London, where he has continued to develop since.
Much like the club’s former number 19, the 22-year-old is primarily a central midfielder but has the ability and flexibility to play in defensive midfield and, even on occasion, slightly further up the pitch.
In terms of his style of play, the “sensational” dynamo, as dubbed by Spurs content creator tehTrunk, is constantly on the move, be that darting forward to help out in attacks or covering ground to help out the defence, and while he’s not quite as safe on the ball, you’d have described the former Lilywhites star in a similar way.
We saw all of these characteristics in Bilbao, with Spurs writer Alasdair Gold awarding him a 9/10 match rating at full-time for his ‘constantly running display’ and how well he did ‘to break up United’s play.’
Ultimately, while we would never say Sarr is on the same level as Dembélé, we do think there are parts of his game that are quite similar, and with another few years of development, he could get close.
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There are still two Premier League games to go, but for all intents and purposes, Arsenal’s season came to an end on Wednesday night.
Moreover, while Mikel Arteta and the players still have to give their all for those two games – Champions League football hasn’t been secured yet – it’s clear the club are looking ahead to next season.
For example, just a few days after the disappointment in Paris, transfers expert Fabrizio Romano finally gave Martin Zubimendi’s long-rumoured move to Arsenal the ‘here we go’ treatment.
Martin Zubimendi.
The details still need to be finalised, but the Spanish international is now set to join the Gunners for around £51m in the summer, and while that’s tremendously exciting, he’ll have to hit the ground running to see his valuation match that of one of his new teammates at the Emirates.
Why Arsenal want Zubimendi
Before we get to the player in question, it’s worth examining why Arsenal are so keen to sign Zubimendi in the first place.
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Firstly, he helps to pad out the number six position in the squad, as while Thomas Partey is reportedly in talks with the club over a new deal, Jorginho is set to join Brazilian side Flamengo in the summer.
However, Arteta and Co are obviously interested in the Spanish international for far more than that, including his defensive nous.
Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi
For example, according to FBref, the “elite tempo controller,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, sits in the top 6% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, for shots blocked and clearances, the top 7% for touches in his penalty area and percentage of aerial duels won, the top 15% for tackles in the attacking third and more, all per 90.
That’s not all, though, as on top of his defensive abilities, the “world-class” midfielder, as dubbed by former teammate Kieran Tierney, also has an abundance of experience and, more importantly, has proven himself in high-pressure games.
Zubimendi’s record
Team
Sociedad
Spain
Appearances
333
17
Minutes
21215′
984′
Goals
10
1
Assists
9
0
Major Trophies
1
1
All Stats via Transfermarkt
For example, he’s made 233 appearances for Sociedad’s first team, including 90 minutes in the club’s 2020 Copa del Rey triumph, and won 15 caps for Spain, one of which came in the second half of the European Championships final, a game La Roja beat England in.
In all, Zubimendi’s technical and defensive ability, combined with his experience of winning when the pressure is on, makes him look like the ideal midfield acquisition for Arsenal this summer, even if he’s worth millions less than one of his future teammates.
The Arsenal star worth millions more than Zubimendi
While Partey and Mikel Merino have both played significant roles for Arsenal this season, neither one has a higher valuation than Zubimendi, nor should they.
Declan Rice, conversely, does, with Transfermarkt valuing him at €110m, which is about £93m, or a whopping £42m more than the Sociedad star is set to cost the Gunners.
Now, while that is undoubtedly a lot of money for a central midfielder, it would be hard to say he’s not proven himself worthy of it this year, with Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher describing him as the club’s “best player this season.”
While it might sound a little hyperbolic, such comments are more than backed up by the midfield monster’s statistics this year.
For example, in 50 appearances, the “monster” Englishman, as dubbed by Arsenal writer Connor Humm, has scored eight goals and provided ten assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.77, which is undeniably impressive for someone primarily playing as an eight.
Rice’s FBref Scout Report
Statistics
Per 90
Percentile
Progressive Carries
2.70
Top 5%
Corner Kicks
3.10
Top 5%
Carries into the Penalty Area
0.56
Top 6%
Crosses
4.66
Top 7%
Assists
0.21
Top 8%
Goals + Assists
0.38
Top 10%
Touches (Att Pen)
2.73
Top 10%
Non-Penalty Expected G+As
0.32
Top 11%
All Stats via FBref
Moreover, FBref has placed him in the top 5% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive carries and corner kicks, the top 6% for carries into the penalty area, the top 7% for crosses, the top 8% for assists, the top 10% for goals plus assists and more, all per 90.
Ultimately, signing Zubimendi is incredibly exciting and shows real ambition from Arsenal, but he will have to be truly sensational in North London to see his valuation match Rice’s.
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Barry Ferguson has three more matches left to manage as the interim head coach of Glasgow Rangers before he moves on from Ibrox this summer.
The former Scotland international came in to replace Philippe Clement earlier this year and has only won four of his 12 games in charge of Rangers to date, drawing his most recent clash in the Old Firm derby.
Ferguson, therefore, has not done much to suggest that the new owners, when they complete their takeover, should be looking to hand him the role on a full-time basis moving forward.
In fact, TEAMtalk recently reported that the 49ers want to appoint a fresh face with no prior connection to Rangers, which immediately rules out Ferguson, who has now played for and managed the Light Blues.
The outlet added that Steven Gerrard is also out of the running, because of that stance, and will not be returning to Ibrox for a second stint in the dugout.
Whilst the 49ers will not be pursuing a move for the out-of-contract English tactician, they should be looking for a manager who can be their own version of the Liverpool legend.
Why the 49ers should want their own Steven Gerrard
Back in the summer of 2018, Rangers, who were aiming to put Celtic’s dominant run of league titles to a stop, confirmed the appointment of Gerrard on a four-year contract.
Nathan Patterson, Steven Gerrard
Prior to that summer, the Hoops had won seven Scottish Premiership titles in as many seasons and the Gers needed a manager who could wrestle back control of the league.
Gerrard was a risky appointment, as he had not managed a first-team game by that point, and it was not a move that instantly worked out for the Light Blues, because the English boss needed time to develop a style and to build a squad that was ready to win the title.
Rangers finished in second place, behind Celtic, in the manager’s first two seasons at Ibrox, before they went on to win the division in the 2020/21 campaign, going unbeaten in the process.
Matches
38
12
Wins
32
8
Draws
6
3
Defeats
0
1
Points
102
27
Points per game
2.68
2.25
League position
1st (Champions)
1st
As you can see in the table above, Gerrard’s side won 32 of their 38 matches that season to clinch the Premiership crown and to stop Celtic from winning ten in a row.
The Light Blues then won eight of their first 12 matches in the following season, taking them to the top of the table, before the manager decided to pursue an opportunity with Aston Villa in the Premier League.
Steven Gerrard
Unfortunately, Rangers have finished second in all four of their seasons without Gerrard at the helm, as Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Michael Beale, Philippe Clement, and Barry Ferguson have all failed to deliver a title to the Ibrox faithful.
The 49ers should, therefore, want to find their own version of the English boss because they now face the same task that the club faced in 2018: stopping Celtic’s title dominance.
Why Rangers should target Frank Lampard
Back in October 2023, when Beale was relieved of his duties, Sky Sports reported that Frank Lampard had shown an interest in the available post at Ibrox.
Almost two years later, the 49ers must target the English manager to see if he would be interested in the job this time around, should Coventry fail to earn promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs.
Frank Lampard in charge of Coventry City.
It seems unlikely that he would want to ditch the Sky Blues if they make their way to the top-flight in England, but Rangers must attempt to convince Lampard to make the move to Scotland if Coventry do not join Leeds United and Burnley in the top division.
The 46-year-old tactician, who typically deploys a 4-2-3-1 formation, joined the Sky Blues when they were 17th in the Championship and level on points with the bottom three and led them to a fifth-placed finish, to secure a place in the play-offs.
Speaking on talkSPORT recently, pundit Jermaine Jenas hailed Lampard’s ability to work through criticism and claimed that he has done a “pretty special” job at Coventry, which is hard to argue against when you look at the images above.
The former Chelsea midfielder, who played alongside Gerrard at international level for England in their playing days, has had mixed success throughout his managerial career, but is currently thriving at the CBS Arena.
24/25
Championship (Coventry)
29
1.79
5th
22/23
Premier League (Chelsea)
9
0.56
12th
22/23
Premier League (Everton)
20
0.75
19th
21/22
Premier League (Everton)
18
1.11
16th
20/21
Premier League (Chelsea)
19
1.53
9th
19/20
Premier League (Chelsea)
38
1.74
4th
18/19
Championship (Derby County)
46
1.61
6th
As you can see in the table above, Lampard enjoyed early success with sixth and fourth place finishes with Derby County and Chelsea, before being sacked by the Premier League giants and by Everton.
He then endured a dismal interim spell at Chelsea after Graham Potter’s dismissal at Stamford Bridge, earning just 0.56 points per game across nine matches, before taking the Coventry job earlier this season.
Whilst managing at the top of the Premier League may be a step too far for him at this moment in time, Lampard has finished in the play-off positions in both of his seasons in the Championship with Derby and Coventry, which shows that he can motivate and set up a team to win consistently.
Couple that with the respect that his playing career earns him, and there is a compelling argument to suggest that he could be the 49ers’ own version of Gerrard in the new era at Ibrox, as another manager on the up who has something to prove rather than someone who has been there and done it and may not have the same motivation.
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Like Gerrard, Lampard is yet to win a league title and the prospect of doing that at Ibrox could be an attractive and highly-motivating factor for him, which is why the 49ers could tempt him to leave Coventry if his side fails to win the play-offs.
The English tactician has shown promise at Championship level and has proven that he can galvanise a losing team and turn it into a winning one, which is, in essence, what Rangers are in need of.
Every year, football’s elite gather in Paris to determine the winner of the Ballon d’Or.
Well, perhaps not if your name is Vinicius Junior. The Brazilian famously snubbed the awards evening in 2024 when he found out he’d been outvoted for the major accolade by Manchester City’s midfield sensation Rodri.
Rodri
It was a landmark year for the Spaniard, who won the Premier League with City and also won the European Championships after defeating England in the final.
Having suffered a terrible ACL injury towards the end of the year, Rodri was not in the conversation to win the award again in 2025.
2014
Cristiano Ronaldo
Real Madrid
2015
Lionel Messi
Barcelona
2016
Cristiano Ronaldo
Real Madrid
2017
Cristiano Ronaldo
Real Madrid
2018
Luka Modric
Real Madrid
2019
Lionel Messi
Barcelona
2021
Lionel Messi
PSG
2022
Karim Benzema
Real Madrid
2023
Lionel Messi
PSG/Inter Miami
2024
Rodri
Manchester City
2025
Ousmane Dembele
PSG
Instead, it was PSG’s Ousmane Dembele who reigned supreme, having starred as the Parisiens finally won the Champions League in 2024/25.
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What made Dembele’s triumph all the more remarkable was the fact that he’d never actually been dominated for the award before.
He beat off some stiff competition, including Lamine Yamal, but what does the future have in store for the Spaniard? Well, with the help of Grok, the next ten winners of the Ballon d’Or have been predicted.
1 2026: A first crown for France's best Kylian Mbappe
With Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi no longer the players they once were, it was always predicted that Kylian Mbappe would rise to the top.
A victory in 2026 would be a long time coming for Madrid’s latest Galactico but it would be an award well deserved. There’s a World Cup in 2026, too. Perhaps he’s just led France to a second triumph in three attempts?
2 2027: The wonderkid triumphs for the first time Lamine Yamal
One of the favourites for 2025, Yamal finally gets the recognition on a global stage that he deserves in two years time. At the age of 17, he’s already won the Kopa Trophy for the best U21 player, and it feels only a matter of time before he’s officially crowned the best player in the world.
Cole Palmer already thinks he is, and with numbers like he’s achieved in 2024/25, scoring 18 and assisting 26, anything is possible. He is a generational talent, the rightful heir to Lionel Messi’s throne.
Games
55
Goals
18
Assists
25
3 2028: A victory for the Premier League Erling Haaland
Like Mbappe, Haaland has been tripped as a future Ballon d’Or winner for a while now but AI thinks we’ll have to wait another three years before seeing Manchester City’s goal machine given the gong.
Given the length of his contract, he’s set to stay in the Premier League for a long time and is likely to continue banging in the goals on a domestic and continental level. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he is the definitive best number 9 of all time once he hangs up his boots.
4 2029: Messi 2.0 does it again Lamine Yamal
We told you he was generational. Two years on from his first success, Yamal is set to be handed his second Ballon d’Or, truly following in the footsteps of the great Messi.
At this point in his career, he’ll still only be 22 years of age. His potential is utterly frightening.
5 2030: Another win for Real Madrid Vinicius Jr
Six years on from what he felt was a cruel loss at the hands of Rodri, Brazil’s heir to Neymar and Real Madrid’s heir to CR7, Vini Jr, will finally get his hands on football’s most prestigious individual award.
Although aged 30, AI thinks he’ll still be going strong for Real Madrid, and with it being a World Cup year, maybe, just maybe, Brazil have got their hands on the trophy again.
Games
51
Goals
20
Assists
17
6 2031: Another Barca great does it Pedri
Every player on this list so far has been a forward but Barcelona star Pedri is set to topple the Yamal dominance by winning the award himself, following in the footsteps of the amazing Luka Modric and Rodri, the last midfielders to win the award.
The Spaniard is only 22 at the time of writing but he had a captivating season for Barca as they reached the Champions League final and won LaLiga. He’s played 59 times in 2024/25, scoring six goals and assisting eight. If he does indeed win the Ballon d’Or in 2031, his longevity certainly will have been Modric-esque.
7 2032: Liverpool's new signing takes it home Florian Wirtz
On the cusp of signing for Liverpool, who knows where Florian Wirtz will be playing in seven years time but AI seems to reckon that after securing a transfer to a Champions League giant and putting in strong showings for Germany, he’ll be the best player in the world.
Well, if it’s with the Reds, it would be their first Ballon d’Or winner since a certain Michael Owen back in 2001.
Wirtz is certainly one of the finest playmakers in the world already, contributing to 31 goals (16 goals, 15 assists) in the 2024/25 season when he was still with Bayer Leverkusen.
8 2033: More success for Germany Jamal Musiala
Germany star Jamal Musiala
Back-to-back success for Germany as Jamal Musiala picks up his first crown in 2033. This could be the start of a newfound dominance for Die Mannschaft, who with Musiala and Wirtz in tow, may well have won the 2032 European Championships.
AI is backing the attacking midfielder to trump everyone else due to Bayern Munich’s dominance, international accolades and consistent form.
9 2034: A third major honour awaits Lamine Yamal
Lamine Yamal for Barcelona
Rounding things off is a third triumph for one of the best players this generation has seen; Yamal.
In 2034, he’s be 27 and at the peak of his career with AI predicting him to cement his legacy as a generational talent. If he isn’t already, he’s now a truly household name, one of the best players we’ve ever seen in the game and right up there with Messi.
Only two players, Messi and Ronaldo, have won it more than three times, while Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten are the only other players to have all taken it home on three occasions.
10 2035: Brazilian follows in the footsteps of Vini Jr Endrick
Brazil'sEndrickduring the warm up before the match
While Yamal will no doubt be in the conversation again after winning it for a third time, his reign is brought to a halt by another of LaLiga’s top wonderkids at the moment, Endrick.
AI predicts that the Brazilian striker will become a powerhouse over the next decade, potentially winning the World Cup 2034 Golden Ball before cementing himself as the best striker in the world in ten years’ time. Grok reckons that the forward’s physicality and finishing ability will give him the edge over Yamal at this point.
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As their profit and sustainability (PSR) concerns continue to steal the headlines, Aston Villa could yet lose one of Unai Emery’s most important players amid reported interest from Diego Simeone and Atletico Madrid.
Players Aston Villa could sell this summer
On paper, it’s easy to assume that Villa are in one of their strongest positions that they’ve ever been in the Premier League. But as impressive as Emery’s side have been on the pitch, that success hasn’t been without sacrifice away from the pitch. Financially speaking, the Villans are still not a European superpower and are likely to pay the price for spending like one this summer.
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PSR rules state that clubs are not allowed to hit £105m in losses over the course of a rolling three-year period and whilst Aston Villa’s accounts are yet to be published detailing their concern, reports have suggested that they could need to sell at least one star player before the end of June to comply with the rules.
BBC Sport’s chief football writer Phil McNulty spoke about Villa’s concern in a recent Q&A session, saying: “Aston Villa may have to do deals to fend off any lingering PSR concerns, but I think the club are in safe hands with the current ownership and those sales will be smart without weakening the squad.
“We have even seen Morgan Rogers linked with Chelsea, but I do not see Villa entertaining that sort of deal as they want to push on from what Unai Emery has already achieved.”
Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers
Although it may not be Rogers, as McNulty notes, it could yet be the likes of Jacob Ramsey or even Ollie Watkins who head for the exit door this summer amid recent links with Arsenal and Chelsea. The same, meanwhile, can be said for arguably one of Emery’s most important stars.
Simeone personally eyeing Emi Martinez
According to Spanish outlet AS, Diego Simeone now personally wants Atletico Madrid to sign Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa this summer. The £150,000-a-week goalkeeper has found himself at the centre of the transfer headlines this week after he appeared to bid a tearful goodbye to the home fans following the victory against Tottenham Hotspur.
What should only add fuel to the fire is the fact that Emery didn’t deny that Martinez’s exit is a possibility this summer, telling reporters after the Spurs game: “We will see. Of course, it is the last match here [this season], and I don’t know. We will see about the team, the players, but of course, they are responding on the field.”
It’s not just Atletico Madrid who have been linked with the World Cup winner, either. Reports have also suggested that both Manchester United and Barcelona are chasing Martinez’s signature ahead of what could be a long summer saga for Aston Villa.