Done deal: Norwich reach £2.1m agreement to complete 5th summer signing

Norwich City have now reached a £2.1 million agreement to complete their fifth signing of this summer, according to a recent report.

Canaries active early in the summer window

It has been a busy few weeks for the Canaries since their 2024/25 Championship campaign came to an end. Not only have Norwich brought a new manager in, in the form of Liam Manning, but they have also made four new additions in the short time the transfer window has been open.

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Midfielder Jacob Wright became Norwich’s first signing of the summer, as he joined the club on a permanent basis from Manchester City. He was then followed by goalkeeper Daniel Grimshaw, who has joined from Plymouth Argyle. Defender Harry Darling joined the Canaries early this week, putting pen to paper on a three-year deal after rejecting a contract offer from Swansea City.

Norwich have since added a fourth signing this week, as they have announced the arrival of another goalkeeper in the form of Louie Moulden. Moulden joins the club on a free transfer after his contract at Crystal Palace expired, and he has signed a two-year deal at Carrow Road. Moulden is “buzzing” to be at Norwich and is “looking forward to getting started”.

He told Norwich’s media team: “Buzzing to be here, really happy. Obviously, it’s a huge club with great fans. And I’m really looking forward to getting started now.

“I want to show my quality to the manager, push the other goalkeepers and see where that takes us.”

Norwich reach £2.1m agreement to complete 5th signing this summer

It could be three signings in a week for the Canaries, as according to Dutch outlet De Telegraaf, Norwich have reached an agreement with Ajax to sign defender Jakov Medic.

Medic had the option of many Championship clubs this summer, but his preferred destination was Carrow Road. The report states that the Canaries have agreed a 2.5 million euro (£2.1m) fee plus bonuses and a percentage of a resale should Medic leave Norwich.

The 26-year-old has been at Ajax since August 2023, when he joined the club from FC St. Pauli. He spent the 2023/24 campaign with the Dutch side but played just six games in the Eredivisie, as well as three games in the Europa League. His game time with his parent club didn’t improve last term, and he was sent out on loan to German side VfL Bochum, where he played 23 times in the Bundesliga.

Apps

23

Starts

17

Goals

1

Touches per game

45.0

Passing accuracy per game

30.1 (88%)

Interceptions per game

1.0

Tackles per game

0.6

Balls recovered per game

3.3

Clearances per game

4.9

Medic, who is a centre-back by trade but can also operate in a defensive midfield role, will join Darling as a defensive signing this summer. The Canaries already have the likes of Shane Duffy, Ruairi McConville and Jose Córdoba as centre-back options, but it is likely Medic and Darling could form a partnership now at the heart of Norwich’s defence.

Sunderland now plotting 8-figure move for hugely in-demand Asian talent

Sunderland are in the mix to complete the signing of one of Europe’s most sought-after young players, according to a fresh transfer claim.

Sunderland to use Bellingham money for new signings

The Black Cats have been dealt the rather predictable blow of losing Jobe Bellingham this summer, with the teenager off to Borussia Dortmund, copying the career path of his brother, Jude Bellingham.

While not having the midfielder in their ranks in the Premier League next season is a big blow, Sunderland will at least receive around £30m+ for him, which can be spent on new signings who can aid Regis Le Bris’ side’s battling to avoid a speedy return to the Championship.

Jobe Bellingham

Manchester City youngster Charlie Gray has been mentioned as a potential replacement for Bellingham ahead of the 2025/26 season, with the 19-year-old struggling with opportunities at the Etihad. He is predominantly a defensive midfielder, but he can take up more attacking roles, too.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth defender Chris Mepham has been linked with a return to the Stadium of Light this summer, with the 27-year-old now an experienced head who should still remain at his peak for the foreseeable future.

Sunderland battling Newcastle for young star

According to On The Minute, Sunderland have joined the race to sign Djurgarden defender Keita Kosugi in the summer window, with rivals Newcastle also among those in the mix to snap him up for around £8m.

The report says that the 19-year-old is considered “one of the most sought-after young talents in Europe”, highlighting his potential, and the Black Cats are trying to snap him up, along with Nottingham Forest, Celtic, Paris Saint-Germain and Atalanta.

Sunderland managerRegisLeBrisapplauds fans after the match

Kosugi may not yet be known to British football fans, but his long-term potential makes him such an exciting option for Sunderland, who need to find the right blend of youth and experience when the new Premier League campaign gets underway in August.

The teenage left-back won 10 caps for Japan’s Under-17s during his younger days, and he has already made 45 appearances for Djurgarden, scoring five goals and registering two assists in that time. Meanwhile, video scout Elijah Michiels has described him as “excellent”.

Kosugi can come in and provide competition for Dennis Cirkin at left-back straight away, starting off as a squad player who hopefully matures into a key man as time passes.

He is already more experienced than his age arguably suggests, coming up against Chelsea in the semi-finals of UEFA Europa Conference League, and if he reaches his possible ceiling, Sunderland could have an absolute gem of a signing on their hands.

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Le Bris has shown faith in youth already, from Bellingham to Chris Rigg, and if he believes Kosugi is good enough to feature regularly from the off, he should be trusted.

Burnley can land dream Esteve replacement by signing £12m "warrior"

Scott Parker will hope he’s in it for the long haul at Burnley as they step back up to the Premier League, after finding his last venture in the top-flight to be short-lived with AFC Bournemouth.

The 44-year-old would only last four top-flight contests with the Cherries during the 2022/23 season before being handed his abrupt marching orders, with a horrific 9-0 loss suffered at the hands of Liverpool during his final game not helping his cause whatsoever.

He returns to the elite division with a point to prove, therefore, having just successfully guided the Clarets up to the big time by collecting 100 points, with a defensive solidity on show that was nowhere to be found at Anfield.

However, bit by bit, the defence that only leaked 16 league goals last season is being picked off, with Maxime Esteve perhaps the next to leave Turf Moor behind after CJ Egan-Riley’s distressing contract situation.

The latest on Esteve's Burnley future

Annoyingly, Egan-Riley – who shone brightly next to Esteve last season – looks set to exit Lancashire for good, amidst interest in his services from RC Strasbourg and West Ham United.

The imposing Frenchman, meanwhile, also has his fair share of Premier League admirers, with Crystal Palace and Everton recently named as onlookers keen on adding the 23-year-old to their rosters, alongside ex-Clarets boss Vincent Kompany also keeping tabs on him from the Bayern Munich dug-out.

This would be a huge blow to Burnley’s confidence if they were to lose their in-demand number five, considering Esteve is just fresh off a campaign that saw him average an unerring 91% pass accuracy per Championship clash, alongside also showing off his brute strength with 3.6 duels won per match too.

But, the Clarets might now have a dream replacement for the ex-Montpellier titan up their sleeve, with the target in question already well-versed in how to battle and fight amid a Premier League relegation scrap.

The £12m "warrior" who'd be the dream Esteve replacement

After all, Esteve has struggled in the demanding top-flight in the past, away from his name currently generating a buzz, with zero clean sheets coming his way for Burnley from 16 league appearances during their relegation season.

On the contrary, the Clarets’ new defensive target – as has been reported by the Irish Sun – in Dara O’Shea at least exited this campaign just gone with his head held high, with the Republic of Ireland international even winning Ipswich Town’s Player of the Season accolade for his valiant efforts at the back, despite the Tractor Boys slipping straight back down to the second-tier.

On top of that, O’Shea was also a popular figure when he last donned claret and blue – away from deserting the Clarets after relegation – with the Dublin-born titan even amassing three goals and four assists in league action during the 2023/24 season at Turf Moor, alongside averaging an imposing 5.5 duels won on average.

Again, however, all of his heroic efforts were for nothing as relegation was ultimately served up. But, the £12m defender will hope to buck that ongoing trend if he does relocate back to Lancashire shortly, amidst interest also coming in for his services from Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leeds United.

Games played

35

46

Goals scored

0

1

Assists

2

0

Touches*

58.9

78.0

Accurate passes*

34.0 (79%)

60.5 (91%)

Ball recoveries*

3.1

3.7

Clearances*

6.2

5.0

Total duels won*

5.4

3.6

His most recent stint with Ipswich shows off how he could be a dream Esteve replacement, with the table above displaying his similarities to the Bundesliga-linked defender, as seen in both centre-backs being unfazed by having the ball at their feet, away from completing their gritty defensive basics.

Parker will just pray that he can land O’Shea over other rivals, especially if Esteve does heartbreakingly seek out pastures new, with the Irishman also being labelled as a “warrior” by former West Bromwich Albion manager Valerien Ismael for his full-blooded displays.

The under pressure 44-year-old will need everyone singing off the same hymn sheet defensively if his team stands any chance at survival, with a familiar face in O’Shea rejoining potentially working wonders.

Burnley could sign dream Egan-Riley replacement in "outstanding" £25m star

Burnley would soon forget about CJ Egan-Riley leaving Turf Moor behind if they signed this outstanding replacement.

ByKelan Sarson Jun 5, 2025

Birmingham could sign "incredible" striker who'd be Stansfield 2.0

Birmingham City supporters will already be excited about the 2025/26 campaign getting underway as they aim to become a top-end Championship side.

Chris Davies’ men haven’t actually finished in the top half of the second-tier since their tenth place finish at the close of the 2015/16 season, with their last adventure in the Premier League coming all the way back in 2011 before they tumbled down to League One.

But, there is a positive, new dawn at St. Andrew’s after the Blues accumulated a mighty 111 points to lift the third-tier title, meaning they will re-enter the Championship raring to succeed.

Plenty of new signings will soon come into the building to help Birmingham try and push on up a level too, but promotion hero Jay Stansfield will surely have a huge role to play in the West Midlands giants leaping up a division and taking it in their stride after setting League One alight.

Stansfield's goalscoring heroics in 2024/25

The former Fulham striker entering Davies’ ranks last summer was seen as somewhat of a coup, considering he was pushing for some senior opportunities at Craven Cottage before calling St. Andrew’s his fixed home.

He wouldn’t dwell on his Cottagers exit for long, though, with the 22-year-old going on to fire home a mightily impressive 19 strikes in league action from 31 starts as Birmingham’s main leading man in attack.

There will be a hope now that Stansfield can kick on and cause Championship defences the same amount of bother.

After all, he has already tallied up 12 goals at the daunting level when previously on loan with the Blues, before joining permanently.

The ambitious outfit could even be about to sign their next iteration of Stansfield with Birmingham’s latest target also on the periphery of their Premier League employers but a more than capable player in the EFL.

Birmingham's "incredible" new Stansfield

Despite already possessing Stansfield’s firepower, the Blues will be looking to make their attack even more deadly in the Championship, as seen in Davies’ men being linked with Kwame Poku and Che Adams.

Their latest target is Aston Villa forward Louie Barry, with GIVEMESPORT reporting that he is likely to be allowed to leave on loan. As a result, his name has allegedly been mentioned ‘internally’ at St Andrew’s by Tom Wagner and Co ahead of a summer move.

louie-barry-aston-villa

This would undoubtedly be a controversial move to seal, considering he would be crossing enemy lines from his parent employers Villa to the blue side of the Midlands.

Games played

23

37

Games started

22

31

Goals scored

15

19

Assists

2

3

Shots per game

3.1

2.7

Shots on target per game

1.6

1.1

Goal conversion %

21%

19%

Big chances missed

6

13

But, controversy aside, adding Barry would definitely boost Birmingham’s attacking output when taking into account his whirlwind Stockport County loan stint.

Described as “incredible” by Declan Rice, the entertaining 21-year-old picking up a bumper 15 goals from just 22 league appearances for the Hatters this season, proving, that like Stansfield, he knows how to find the back of the net away from the top-flight.

Sadly, despite tearing League One to shreds with Dave Challinor’s side, no real meaningful senior opportunities have come the attacker’s way at Villa Park, as seen in him picking up just one solitary first-team chance.

Therefore, much like Stansfield’s journey, Barry might well view Birmingham as the next best choice for his development, regardless of any heated rivalries between Villa and the Blues.

Down the line, he might even view St. Andrew’s as a place where he could permanently reside, especially if his new potential team soar to some great heights making the step back up to the challenging Championship.

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ByKelan Sarson May 30, 2025

Talks held: Berta has now spoken to £145m winger about signing for Arsenal

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has now personally spoken to a £145m star about a summer move to the Emirates Stadium, according to a report.

Gunners eyeing new winger amid Martinelli criticism

There have recently been suggestions that Gabriel Martinelli may not be at the level required to take the Gunners to the next level, with journalist Kyle Bonn implying that Mikel Arteta should look to bring in a new winger in the summer transfer window.

Those thoughts may also be echoed by club legend Thierry Henry, with the Frenchman suggesting the winger still has plenty of areas in which he needs to improve after the 2-0 victory against Manchester United earlier this season.

As we approach the summer transfer window, the north Londoners have been stepping up their pursuit of a new winger, with the likes of Nico Williams and Rodrygo believed to be of interest, while they have now made contact over a deal for a different forward.

Indeed, according to a report from Foot Mercato, Arsenal have now shortlisted AC Milan’s Rafael Leao as a summer target, with Berta speaking to the Portugal international on the phone around ten days ago.

AC Milan's RafaelLeao

The Gunners hold a real interest in Leao, who is considering an exit this summer after a mixed campaign at the San Siro, but he is not their priority target, and they are yet to make a final decision about whether to make a move.

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ByEmilio Galantini May 24, 2025 "Incredible" Leao could be expensive signing for Arsenal

According to reports from Italy, Milan could hold out for as much as £145m for the Portuguese winger, so a deal is likely to be on the expensive side, but there are clear signs he could be an upgrade on Martinelli.

The 25-year-old has averaged more non-penalty goals, assists and successful take-ons than the Arsenal winger over the past year, during which time he has also been lauded as “incredible” by CBS’ Matteo Bonetti.

Statistic

Gabriel Martinelli

Rafael Leao

Non-penalty goals

0.29

0.34

Assists

0.14

0.26

Successful take-ons

1.48

2.84

While Milan have underperformed throughout the 2024-25 campaign, currently sitting in seventh place, the Almada-born winger has remained consistent in front of goal, picking up 12 goals and 13 assists in all competitions.

As such, should Arsenal decide to bring in a new winger this summer, Leao should be right near the top of the list of targets, but signing a new centre-forward is arguably more important, with Arteta being left very short on options at striker throughout the campaign.

Better signing than Frimpong: Liverpool ready bid for "world-class" talent

Why don’t we park the negativity for a moment: Liverpool have won the Premier League in Arne Slot’s season, and with plenty of time to spare at that.

You may have seen on social media that Slot is partying out in Ibiza, while Virgil van Dijk has taken the lads off to Dubai for a mini-break to celebrate Trent Alexander-Arnold before his contentious move to Real Madrid as a free agent.

This is amusing to watch, not least because the Reds still have to play Brighton & Hove Albion at the AMEX on Sunday before the culminating game of the campaign against Crystal Palace at Anfield in two weeks. But it highlights the club’s staggering success this year, so dominant throughout.

To think that FSG’s new iteration achieved league gold with only Federico Chiesa added to the first-team squad. Signings are needed now, and no mistake, with sporting director Richard Hughes acting swiftly to seal a deal for Jeremie Frimpong, Liverpool’s right-back-in-waiting.

Why Liverpool are signing Jeremie Frimpong

Frimpong has scored 30 goals and supplied 44 assists across 190 matches for Bayer Leverkusen. The 24-year-old is rapid, physically robust and dynamic, and if Liverpool’s data-driven team are convinced, fans should be too.

Bayern Munich's Alphonso Davies in action with Bayer Leverkusen'sJeremieFrimpong

According to Fabrizio Romano, advanced discussions are underway, with details pertaining to the structure of the €35m (about £30m) release clause being ironed out.

Frimpong differs greatly from Alexander-Arnold but he will add an attacking dimension to Liverpool’s backline, ranking among the top 6% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues this term for goal contributions and the top 2% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref.

24/25

48

5

12

23/24

47

14

12

22/23

48

9

11

21/22

34

2

8

20/21

13

0

1

The Netherlands star will be a great addition, one who will tussle with Conor Bradley for that number one spot. However, Liverpool are planning surgery across three quarters of the backline, and there’s an even better deal currently in the works.

Liverpool lead race for new defender

While Milos Kerkez remains the top target at left-back, it’s unlikely Liverpool will advance their intrigue, given Bournemouth still have it all to play for in the Premier League.

Transfer Focus

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

Dean Huijsen also plays for the Cherries, but the young centre-back is being pursued by almost every top team worth their salt, with a £50m release clause that demands a decision on his future in the coming weeks.

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Liverpool are ready to lodge an official bid for Huijsen to trigger that clause, though Real Madrid are interested too and it’s felt the young star would be interested in moving to the Spanish capital.

Of course, Liverpool are an interesting destination themselves. According to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, not only is a decision is forthcoming, but Liverpool are alongside Arsenal in leading the race.

A decision will indeed be made soon, and FSG must surely be ready to seal the deal with a first major central defensive signing since Ibrahima Konate arrived from RB Leipzig for £36m in May 2021.

Why Dean Huijsen would be Slot's perfect signing

Romano’s revelation suggests a conclusion to this saga will be found soon, and FSG must ensure they are doing all they can to complete Slot’s backline with the young star.

Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen

Huijsen really is “the most in-demand centre-back in the world,” as has been noted by analyst Ben Mattinson. At the moment, the race is absolutely open, and Liverpool can only do all they can to convince the Spain international that Anfield presents the best step forward in his career.

Joining Bournemouth from Juventus in a deal worth £15m last summer, Huijsen has established himself as one of the Premier League’s standout young stars, playing every minute of his side’s past 23 fixtures.

Would it be fair to say he’d be a better signing than Frimpong for Slot’s trophy-winning Reds? In fairness, Huijsen is regarded as the “ultimate modern-day centre-back” by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp, and he’s got the statistics to back it up.

As per Sofascore, the 20-year-old has averaged almost three tackles and interceptions per game this term, winning 61% of his aerial battles and keeping seven clean sheets for Andoni Iraola’s side. It’s hardly surprising he’s been named a “world-class” star in the making by one analyst.

Honestly, there’s no question really that he’d be a better signing than Frimpong, not least having proven himself in the Premier League, while bearing all the traits needed to become a superstar in Slot’s Liverpool set-up. Who knows, given his left-footed inclination, maybe Huijsen could even succeed Van Dijk on the left side.

Bournemouth's DeanHuijsencelebrates after the match

As per FBref, Huijsen ranks among the top 7% of defenders in the Premier League this season for goal involvements, the top 7% for shot-creating actions, the top 13% for progressive passes and the top 9% for progressive carries per 90, effectively illustrating a technical aptitude and athletic ability that marry into his core defensive quality.

Given the uncertainty around Ibrahima Konate, who has been confirmed to have seen contract talks stagnate with just one year remaining on his current deal, Liverpool must surely accelerate their plans to sign Huijsen, insofar as such efforts will hold any sway. Of course, they can canvass a proposal for the ages, one which promises a standout role in a standout team.

Jeremie Frimpong

We’d love to watch Huijsen spray balls out into the path of an electric-bursting Frimpong next season, but there’s no question the Spanish man is the one that FSG should go for, should they need to prioritise.

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Same agent as Dorgu: Man Utd now offered chance to sign "incredible" winger

Looking towards the summer transfer window, Manchester United have now reportedly been offered the chance to sign a serial winner represented by the same agency as Patrick Dorgu.

Man Utd's summer plan taking shape

Whilst step one of Manchester United’s transfer plan will be to win the Europa League later this month and confirm their shock place in next season’s Champions League, they simply need to invest no matter the outcome against Tottenham Hotspur. Ahead of his first full season in charge, Ruben Amorim will have the chance to prove doubters wrong, but will finally need players who suit his system to do exactly that.

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6 ByEthan Lamb May 9, 2025

If recent rumours are anything to go by then it will, indeed, be a busy summer for the Red Devils on both the incomings and departures front. Already, players like Antony and Marcus Rashford could be heading for the exit door as the start of a hefty clear-out at Old Trafford, which Amorim will be desperate to see end with plenty of fresh faces.

Meanwhile, on the incomings front, names such as Ronald Araujo and Yann Bisseck have threatened to steal the headlines as of late. Two defenders who squared off in one of the best Champions League semi-finals in recent memory, as Inter Milan came out on top to win 7-6 on aggregate, both would undoubtedly improve the current Manchester United backline.

Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo

Amorim is well aware of the need for improvement too, having told reporters in the build-up to his side’s Europa League semi-final victory over Athletic Bilbao: “For me, in that moment and you look at Premier League, we are the worst team since I arrived in terms of results. That is my idea. In the end of the season, we can be the worst team in Premier League history with a European title.”

However, despite that admission, the lure of Old Trafford remains there to exploit amid reports that Manchester United have now been offered the chance to sign a serial winner.

Man Utd offered chance to sign Kingsley Coman

According to Caught Offside, Manchester United have now been offered the chance to sign Kingsley Coman from Bayern Munich this summer by the winger’s agent. The Frenchman’s representatives have been knocking on doors around European football hoping to seal a move this summer, with Old Trafford seemingly among those.

A serial winner having won league titles at Bayern, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus as well as the Champions League in Bavaria, Coman may not be at the peak of his powers but he would help change the mentality in the Manchester United dressing room.

Kingsley Coman for Bayern Munich against Borussia Dortmund.

What’s more, a deal could be made easier by the fact that Coman is represented by the same agency as Patrick Dorgu, who completed a move to Old Trafford in January. With contact already established and a relationship already built between both parties, the Red Devils have an ideal opportunity.

Dubbed a player who has “incredible talent” by former Bayern manager and current Barcelona boss Hansi Flick, Coman could yet rediscover his most clinical form at Manchester United this summer.

He won 0 duels: Ange must instantly axe Spurs dud who dropped a 2/10

Unfortunately for the Tottenham Hotspur faithful, last night was a return to what has become their new normal this season.

Ange Postecoglou’s side played host to Champions League-chasing Nottingham Forest in the Premier League and found themselves two goals down within 20 minutes.

Now, Richarlison did manage to pull one back late on and, in all honesty, they created enough chances to turn the game around, but in the end, they fell to their 18th league defeat of the campaign and their eighth at home.

Tottenham Hotspur manager AngePostecoglou

In all, it was just another disappointing night for the North Londoners, one in which most of the starters let themselves down, including one ace who should probably be dropped after yet another shocking showing.

Spurs' poor performers

So, before we get to the player in question, it seems only fair to go over some of the other Spurs players who let the manager and fans down last night, starting with Cristian Romero.

Player ratings via Sofascore

After his sensational showing against Eintracht Frankfurt last week, there was some hope that he’d carry that into the rest of his appearances this season, but it was very quickly evident that wasn’t going to be the case against Forest.

Not only did the World Cup winner look determined to get himself sent off, but he also lost track of Chris Wood for the striker’s headed goal, making the 4/10 match rating he received from Alasdair Gold more than fair, and his substitution at half-time the correct call.

However, the Argentine wasn’t the only dire defender, as it was also a first 45 to forget for the usually impressive Micky van de Ven.

Like his defensive partner, the Flying Dutchman came off second best for the Tricky Trees’ second goal as he lost the aerial duel with the free-scoring Kiwi and certainly warranted the 5/10 rating he received from Gold.

Minutes

45′

Expected Assists

0.01

Blocks

0

Tackles

0

Interceptions

1

Duels (Won)

4 (2)

Long Balls (Accurate)

2 (0)

However, as poor as the two centre-backs were, another member of the back five was even worse and should, therefore, probably be dropped ahead of the game against Liverpool on Sunday.

The Spurs star who should be axed

So, even though there were a number of other starters who also endured a torrid time last night, such as Richarlison, Dejan Kulusevski and Pape Matar Sarr, when it came down to it, the worst performer for the hosts was Guglielmo Vicario.

It really was a night to forget for the Italian shot-stopper, as he probably could have done better for Elliot Anderson’s opening strike and then definitely should have done far better for Wood’s header.

In fact, had the former Empoli star not come rushing off his line to fly into thin air, there is a real chance that he would have been able to either parry the ball out of danger or perhaps even hold onto it. Instead, he gave the in-form forward practically an open net at which to aim.

Unsurprisingly, Gold was left unimpressed and awarded the 28-year-old a 3/10 match rating, which was more than justified by his stats, as in 95 minutes of action he made a single save, prevented -0.60 goals, made one error leading to a goal, made just 18 passes and failed in 100% of his long balls.

Now, if this display was a one-off, then suggesting he be dropped ahead of the game on Sunday would be unjust, but it’s not the only time he’s failed to perform in recent weeks, as he put on yet another horror show away to Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this month.

Minutes

95′

Saves

1

Goals Conceded

2

Goals Prevented

-0.60

Errors Leading to a Goal

1

Passes

18

Duels won

0

Long Balls (Accurate)

1 (0)

In fact, that match saw Gold justifiably award him a 2/10 match rating, as he also made an error that led directly to a shot and, on top of that, managed to prevent -1.05 goals.

Ultimately, Vicario might be a better keeper than Antonín Kinský, but at the moment, he is a liability, so Postecoglou should be bold and drop him from the starting lineup for the next game.

Otherwise, it could be a third shambolic league performance on the bounce for the “unbelievable” Italian ace, as the legendary Gianluigi Buffon once described him.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 21, 2025

Their next Amad: Man Utd make huge swap offer for "outstanding" £42m star

Manchester United are set for a crucial summer under boss Ruben Amorim, with the off-season the first real opportunity to get his feet under the table to make the changes he desires.

January was the first chance he had to make the changes he wanted, signing Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven to add to the first-team squad, with more additions expected in the coming months.

However, alongside new signings, departures are desperately needed to free up the wage budget and create funds to allow for the potential arrivals ahead of the Premier League season in 2025/26.

Countless players may be moved on and allowed to kickstart their careers elsewhere, as the owners look to avoid a repeat of the current campaign, which has seen them occupy a place in the bottom half.

With the window rapidly approaching, Amorim has already wasted no time in identifying potential targets to bolster his chances of being a success during his first full year at the helm.

An update on United’s hunt for new signings this summer

The cost-cutting operation in place at Old Trafford in recent months could make funds difficult to come by for the manager over the summer, restricting the additions he could possibly make.

However, Atalanta midfielder Ederson has already emerged as a key target for the club, with progress already being made in an attempt to provide needed depth in the middle of the park.

Atalanta midfielder Ederson

It was confirmed that the Red Devils were already in talks with the Serie A outfit over a potential move for the 25-year-old who’s made 29 league starts this season.

He’s not the only player who has appeared on their radar in recent days, with Real Betis sensation Jesus Rodriguez another player on their list ahead of the summer.

According to one Spanish outlet, United have made a swap offer for the 19-year-old forward, which would see big-money attacker Antony move in the opposite direction on a permanent basis – allowing them to bypass the Spaniard’s £42m release clause.

The Brazilian is currently spending the second half of 2024/25 on loan with the LaLiga side, with Amorim’s men looking to take advantage of their interest in signing him by moving for youngster Rodriguez.

Why United’s £42m target could be their next Amad

Ivorian attacker Amad Diallo has endured an excellent breakthrough year at Old Trafford after the former Sporting CP boss took the reins, enjoying increased minutes within the side as a result.

He’s made 36 appearances across all competitions, registering nine goals and seven assists, including the winner against local rivals Manchester City at the Etihad.

However, his progress has been restricted in recent months, missing the last 10 weeks of first-team action after suffering an ankle issue during a training session.

Despite originally being ruled out for the remainder of the campaign, Amorim confirmed this week he’s set to return to training, potentially playing a key role between now and the end of May.

They could land another version of Amad in the form of Rodriguez, signing a talented young forward from a European club to try and push them back in the right direction.

When comparing his stats to those of the current Red Devils star, he’s managed to match or outperform him in numerous key areas – highlighting how much of a superb addition he would be.

Games played

17

22

Goals & assists

2

12

Shot-on-target accuracy

36%

32%

Shots on target per game

0.8

0.7

Take-ons completed

2.7

2

Carries into final third

3.1

2.6

Fouls won

3.3

1.3

The Betis talent, who’s been labelled “outstanding” by analyst Ben Mattinson, may have registered fewer combined goals and assists, but he’s notched a higher shot-on-target rate – showcasing his clinical nature.

He’s also managed to complete more of the take-ons that he’s attempted to date, along with more carries into the final third, having all of the tools to provide others in attacking areas.

Should the club manage to complete a swap deal with Antony moving in the opposite direction, it would be a phenomenal piece of business, using him as a bargaining tool to get themselves a superb young prospect.

It’s evident from the figures the Spaniard has produced this year, he is a talent who will hand Amorim the quality to try and make amends for their dismal season throughout 2024/25.

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Berta has prepared Arsenal bid for "dominant" attacking gem likened to Neymar

Arsenal have prepared an offer to sign a “dominant” attacking gem who’s drawn comparisons with Brazil legend Neymar, with sporting director Andrea Berta already having a fee in mind to put forward.

Arsenal targeting two wingers and a striker this summer

Berta, who’s set to work in tandem on the club’s recruitment with manager Mikel Arteta, arrives at N5 with a glowing reputation after 12 successful years at Atlético Madrid.

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The 53-year-old was responsible for key transfer deals at the Wanda Metropolitano, including the signings of Jan Oblak, Marcos Llorente, Rodri, Antoine Griezmann, Luis Suárez, Yannick Carrasco and noteworthy names, with supporters now hoping he can replicate his excellent pieces of business in north London.

Ipswich Town (away)

April 20th

Crystal Palace (home)

April 23rd

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Arsenal’s board are set to back Berta with a significant transfer kitty this summer, which GiveMeSport estimates could be up to £300 million on as many as seven major signings before the beginning of 2025/2026.

Three items on their agenda include the potential acquisitions of a left-winger, right-winger and striker.

Arsenal have already held talks with the representatives of Nico Williams, who’s expected to leave Athletic Bilbao this summer, while it is also believed that they’re in ongoing communication with Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman’s agents as well.

Arsenal have also been told the price for Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres, according to Fabrizio Romano, with Berta sent a “clear” message in recent days/weeks that the Sweden international will cost around £60 million.

It is pretty evident that a new attacker or two will be coming to the Emirates Stadium, and it is now believed Berta has his eyes firmly on a rising star in Brazil.

Arsenal prepare bid for Atlético Mineiro starlet Gabriel Veneno

According to journalist Lucas Tanaka, that man is teenage forward Gabriel Veneno, who is earning quite the reputation in South America.

The 15-year-old right-winger has even drawn comparisons to Neymar due to his dribbling ability, with Future Ballers on X also branding Veneno a “dominant force” in one-v-one situations and an exceptional dribbler.

Tanaka believes Arsenal already have an offer prepared for Veneno, but he cannot reveal the exact nature of his bid for now.

“Here’s some exclusive information on Gabriel Veneno. The jewel of Atletico is considered a jewel by the people who follow the youth team,” said Tanaka on YouTube.

“Remember he’s in the under-16s, he’ll be 16 in July. He was called up to the Brazilian national team under-16s last year. If I’m not mistaken he’s an attacking midfielder who likes to play on the right wing, pulling inside.

“Gabriel Veneno is being watched and approached by a big European club, Arsenal.

“Arsenal in England is keeping an eye on Gabriel Veneno. I already have the value of the possible offer that they’re thinking of sending in the middle of the year, but I can’t give you the value yet.”

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