Newcastle United have now joined the transfer race to sign an “unbelievable” £100 million star this summer, according to a recent report.

Newcastle go six unbeaten with a 5-0 win over Crystal Palace

The Magpies continued to be without manager Eddie Howe for their game against the Eagles, but that wasn’t a problem for the Premier League side, as they blew Palace away with four goals in the first half. The 5-0 win on Wednesday night means it is 12 goals in their last three league games, and assistant manager Jason Tindall believes that is down to the team being “confident”.

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Tindall told BBC Match of the Day: “We’ve got a fantastic squad, and the balance of the team has been great. We’ve got some players on the bench who can come on the pitch and make a difference. We’re confident; we’ve had a good run of results, and we have to remain level-headed and work hard every day to go out and deliver performances.”

The win against Palace has lifted Newcastle to third place in the Premier League, five clear of sixth-place Chelsea. Tindall has now stated that the Magpies have six cup finals to go and secure Champions League football for next season.

“That’s where we want to get to. Everybody in the Premier League wants to be in the Champions League. We’ve experienced it before, and we want more of it,” he told BBC Match of the Day.

“We’ve got six cup finals now remaining, and we have to stay focused to be able to go out there and deliver the performances we know will help us to get to the Champions League.”

Newcastle join Spurs in race to sign £100m Man City star

So as the Magpies close in on returning to Europe’s biggest competition, Howe and co. are beginning to look at potential transfer targets for this summer. According to a report from Spain, Newcastle are looking to sign Jack Grealish from Manchester City but face competition from other Premier League teams.

The report states that the Magpies, as well as Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur, have made themselves the main contenders to sign the England international this summer. The 29-year-old is under contract until the summer of 2027, but given he has struggled to become a regular in Pep Guardiola’s team, City are potentially looking to sell him this summer if they receive offers that meet their demands.

This report states that Newcastle see Grealish, who cost City £100 million, as a good player to bolster their options, especially if they secure European football. Both Villa and Spurs have been credited with interest in Grealish before Newcastle, but the Magpies may hope that securing Champions League football can give them the edge in this race, and the fact that he has the same agent as goalkeeper Nick Pope could also help them when securing a transfer.

Jack Grealish’s Premier League stats

Apps

189

Goals

27

Assists

29

Grealish, who has been dubbed “unbelievable” by Guardiola, has scored just one goal and grabbed one assist in the Premier League this season, as he’s had to be very patient, starting just seven games in the league so far. Grealish’s potential arrival at St James’ Park would see him compete with the likes of Anthony Gordon, Harvey Barnes and Jacob Murphy for a starting spot.

Chelsea made it two wins on the bounce in the Premier League at a very important time, beating Everton 1-0 at Stamford Bridge. The Blues are chasing down a Champions League spot, and three points goes a massive way towards that in their run-in.

Enzo Maresca’s side kept 55% possession, having a good stamp of authority and control of the game, especially in the first half. Chelsea took 10 shots in the game, generating 0.98 xG and creating one “big chance”, whilst limiting Everton to just 0.52 xG from six shots taken.

There were plenty of strong performers for the Blues against Everton in another must-win game, with Nicolas Jackson getting his first goal in 2025, Noni Madueke thriving in a new position, and Robert Sanchez making some key saves at the back end of the game to secure all three points.

Robert Sanchez's performance against Everton

Sanchez has been criticised heavily this season, making some mistakes leading to goals, conceding 34 goals and only keeping seven clean sheets before the game today. However, the 27-year-old Spaniard was able to add his eighth clean sheet of the campaign against the Toffees, playing his part in a huge victory.

The Spanish shot-stopper only made three saves in the match, but was on high alert after not being tested much throughout the 90 minutes, making a huge save from inside the box and making five high claims, especially important when Chelsea were seeing out the game in the final minutes.

Sanchez being ready to make those saves at the back end of the match was vital to gaining all three points for the Blues, but Chelsea had some even more important performers, especially at the back, to limit Everton to minimal chances throughout the game.

Chelsea's 7/10 star is now undroppable

Trevoh Chalobah was excellent against Everton, earning himself a 7/10 match rating from GOAL, who praised the English defender for ‘picking Beto’s pocket’ in the build-up to Chelsea’s opening goal, regaining possession, allowing for Enzo Fernández to set up Jackson.

Trevoh Chalobah’s performance vs Everton

Stat

Chalobah

Minutes

90

Touches

80

Accurate Passes

61/68

Clearances

9

Tackles

2

Ground Duels Won

2/2

Aerial Duels Won

1/2

Stats taken from Sofascore

The 25-year-old was brilliant against Everton, winning 100% of his ground duels, making sure he made first contact whenever Everton played long balls out to their outlets, allowing Chelsea to sustain pressure and attack at pace.

Chalobah has made 23 Premier League appearances this campaign for Crystal Palace and Chelsea combined, scoring three goals, providing one assist, and totaling 1,809 minutes played. Since returning to the Blues back in January, Chalobah has started eight league games for Maresca’s side, contributing to four clean sheets.

Maresca may have landed on his best centre-back pairing to end this season, especially as Wesley Fofana is out injured, with both Chalobah and Levi Colwill putting in big performances in their last two games together, getting Chelsea two big victories and earning six huge points, which is why he should now be undroppable.

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One of Aston Villa’s top earners is reportedly open to a summer exit due to limited playing time, according to a new report.

Aston Villa's forwards thriving in charge for top five finish

Despite being knocked out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain, Aston Villa are enjoying a superb run of form, having won 10 of their last 11 games in all competitions. Their most recent triumph was a resounding victory over high-flying Newcastle United at Villa Park.

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A significant factor behind Villa’s recent success has been their in-form forward line, with Ollie Watkins, Marcus Rashford, Marco Asensio and Donyell Malen all playing pivotal roles in recent months.

Asensio, in particular, has been hugely impressive since joining on loan from PSG in January, notching five goals and four assists for Unai Emery’s side — including a brilliant brace in a 2-1 win over top-four rivals Chelsea back in February.

Speaking on the Spaniard’s impact, former Villa defender Matthew Upson described him as “world class,” telling BBC Radio 5 Live: “He’s going to play a big part in the exciting finish to the season they have ahead.”

Leon Bailey attracting offers to leave Villa

With Asensio and co. flying at Villa Park, one man who has found game time hard to come by this season is Leon Bailey. The Jamaica international, who joined Villa from Bayer Leverkusen in 2021, has started just 14 Premier League games this term — though his cause hasn’t been helped by injuries, particularly since the turn of the year.

Amid his struggles, GIVEMESPORT now reports that the 27-year-old, who earns £120,000 per week, could be open to leaving Villa Park this summer if the right offer comes in, and there are suitors queuing up to tempt him away.

According to the publication, Bailey would prefer to stay and fight for his place in Emery’s plans, but if it becomes clear that regular minutes are unlikely, he would be “prepared to listen to offers from interested parties”.

Bailey has scored 22 goals and provided 24 assists in 142 appearances for Villa since joining from Bayer Leverkusen — a respectable, if unspectacular, return for a player who cost the club around £30 million.

While consistency has sometimes eluded him, the Jamaican winger has certainly shown flashes of brilliance during his time at Villa Park. One such moment came in Villa’s 3-1 win over Club Brugge in the Champions League back in March, where Bailey found the back of the net inside just three minutes.

Commenting on the goal, former Chelsea forward Pat Nevin was full of praise: “The game has started in slow motion and the goal was scored in slow motion. The ball was played to the back post and Tyrone Mings nods it back and the defenders were stationary. The control from Leon Bailey is sensational and it was a lovely little side-foot finish. Dream start for Villa.”

Despite positive updates arriving regarding Virgil van Dijk’s Liverpool’s future, the Reds are now reportedly willing to offer as much as £87m to sign one of the world’s best defenders.

Fabrizio Romano provides Van Dijk update

Whilst there’s no doubting the fact that Liverpool have endured a fantastic first season under Arne Slot, recent weeks have handed the Dutchman his most difficult spell in charge yet. First exiting the Champions League at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain on penalties, Liverpool then lost against Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final at the same time that Trent Alexander-Arnold’s likely departure stole the headlines.

Making matters worse, Slot’s side failed to make it back-to-back victories on their Premier League return, following their win against Everton with a disappointing 3-2 defeat against Fulham. So, although the title is just four wins away, those at Anfield needed the good news that Fabrizio Romano has just provided.

By sealing new deals for both Salah and Van Dijk, Liverpool would instantly avoid what would be a disastrous start to their summer transfer window. Losing Alexander-Arnold will be a major blow, especially for free, but losing all of the big free at the same time without making any profit would be the ultimate nightmare for those at Anfield.

For now, at least, Van Dijk has remained particularly relaxed over his situation – telling reporters after the Fulham game: “There is progress, yeah. Listen, these are internal discussions and we’ll see.

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“I love the club, I love the fans and they were there for us again [at Fulham]. We wanted to reward them, but I ask them to be there again on Sunday and make the stadium an amazing venue like always for us.”

What that recent news will do is allow the Reds to focus on incomings which could yet reportedly include one of the best defenders that European football has to offer.

Liverpool plotting £87m Araujo deal

According to reports in Spain, Liverpool are now willing to offer a ‘blockbuster’ deal to sign Ronald Araujo worth as much as €100m (£87m) this summer. The Reds reportedly have concrete interest in the Barcelona defender even with Van Dijk set to stay put and could yet form the ultimate partnership between the impressive duo.

Starts

21

31

Progressive Passes

101

152

Tackles Won

22

16

Ball Recoveries

102

97

Although Araujo has missed the majority of the current campaign through a hamstring injury, last season’s numbers suggest that he’d form quite the partnership with Van Dijk at the heart of Liverpool’s defence.

Having been dubbed “excellent” by Hansi Flick on his return from injury earlier this season, Araujo is certainly a key man for Barcelona. Whether they still decide to ease their financial problems by cashing in on their defender will certainly be interesting, however.

Manchester City are now preparing an offer for an “excellent creator”, as Pep Guardiola believes the midfielder would be a perfect fit in his system, according to a report.

Man City eyeing Kevin De Bruyne replacement

Kevin De Bruyne’s time at the Etihad Stadium is set to come to an end this summer, and there is now a feeling he could end up remaining in the Premier League, as Aston Villa are ready to back Unai Emery with a move for the Belgian.

As such, Guardiola will be tasked with bringing in a replacement for De Bruyne at the end of the campaign, and a number of top-level attacking midfielders have been identified as potential targets, with Paris Saint-Germain’s Desire Doue recently emerging as an option.

Doue will not come cheap, with the Blues preparing a £102m offer for the Frenchman, and he is not the only expensive signing they are considering, as Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz is also of interest, and the £129m German would be keen on a move to the Etihad Stadium.

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Man City have set their sights on some renowned attacking midfielders from across Europe, but there is also an indication they may take a gamble on an up-and-coming talent, with a report from Spain revealing they are preparing a super offer for River Plate’s Franco Mastantuono.

Guardiola believes Mastantuono would be a perfect fit for his system, which means City chiefs are now seriously considering making a big offer for the 17-year-old, who has caught the eye with his performances for River Plate this season.

A number of other major clubs have set their sights on the Argentine, including Manchester United, but he is protected by a €45m (£38m) release clause and isn’t expected to leave his current club until 2026 at the earliest.

"Excellent" Mastantuono could be De Bruyne heir

De Bruyne has a remarkable assist record during his time with City, setting up 177 goals in 417 games, so it will be a very difficult task to replace the 33-year-old, but there are signs the River Plate youngster could be the ideal heir.

Football scout Ben Mattinson believes the teenager is an impressive playmaker, while also taking the time to praise his ability from free-kicks.

Most recently, the starlet scored a remarkable free-kick for River Plate in his side’s 2-1 victory against bitter rivals Boca Juniors.

At 17-years-old, it would be a tall order for Mastantuono to replace De Bruyne any time soon, but there is every indication that he could be a future star.

Celtic made a bold decision in the January transfer window when Rennes came knocking to sign their star striker Kyogo Furuhashi on a permanent deal.

The Japan international had scored 85 goals and provided 19 assists in 185 appearances in all competitions for the Scottish giants, including an incredible return of 34 goals in the 2022/23 campaign.

Despite his fantastic record for the club, Celtic agreed to sell the Japanese centre-forward for a reported fee of £10m to the French side, leaving Adam Idah as the team’s only natural number nine.

Instead of dipping into the market before the end of the January transfer window, Brendan Rodgers opted to put his faith in Daizen Maeda as a striker, saving the club millions on a new signing.

The Japanese forward has stepped up to be the alternative to Idah up front, whilst also still being an option on the flanks when needed, and has been a star for the Hoops with his goals this season.

Why Daizen Maeda is Celtic's most important player

The Celtic star, who was described as “electric” by John Collins, is the team’s most important player because of the quality he can provide in front of goal, as well as his incredible work rate out of possession.

Last season, Rodgers claimed that the forward “has the work rate of two players” and this speaks to how important he is to the side off the ball, as the versatile attacker can constantly close down opposition defenders and midfielders when they have the ball to win it back for the Hoops.

The 27-year-old attacker has also been the biggest threat at the top end of the pitch for the Scottish giants, with 30 goals and nine assists in 44 matches in all competitions.

He has scored at least 12 more goals than any of his teammates, with Nicolas Kuhn in second with 18, and has been directly involved in at least seven more goals than any other player in the squad, with Kuhn in second again with 32 goal contributions.

24/25 Premiership	Daizen Maeda
Appearances (starts)	29 (25)
Goals	15
Big chances missed	15
Conversion rate	30%
Key passes per game	1.2
Big chances created	8
Assists	7
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Maeda has provided a constant threat in the final third in the Scottish Premiership, with 23 goals and assists in 25 starts.

These statistics illustrate how important the Japan international is to Rodgers’ side with his contributions at the top end of the pitch, which is why he is the most important player in the squad when you couple that with the work he does off the ball to help out defensively.

Despite his importance to the side and his sensational performances on the pitch in all competitions this season, Maeda is not currently in the top three earners at Parkhead.

The top ten earners at Celtic

Per Salary Sport, Kyogo was in the top three with £19k-per-week before his £10m transfer to Rennes was completed in January, whilst Maeda is currently on £18k-per-week.

Cameron Carter-Vickers and Callum McGregor are reportedly the two highest-earning stars at Parkhead on £37k-per-week, significantly more than the Japan international’s £18k-per-week.

Top ten Celtic earners
24/25 season	Weekly wage
Cameron Carter-Vickers	£37k
Callum McGregor	£37k
James Forrest	£19k
Daizen Maeda	£18k
Alistair Johnston	£16k
Reo Hatate	£16k
Arne Engels	£16k
Adam Idah	£16k
Luis Palma	£16k
Greg Taylor	£15k
Wages via Salary Sport

As you can see in the table above, Maeda is currently fourth in the wage bill, still ahead of the likes of Reo Hatate, Arne Engels, and Alistair Johnston, and is behind James Forrest.

The long-serving academy graduate is reportedly on a wage of £19k-per-week, earning more than a handful of first-team stars, despite being a squad player, at best, this season.

With this in mind, Rodgers must consider ruthlessly axing the Scottish forward from the squad in the upcoming summer transfer window, as there could be a better use for the money they are spending on his wages.

Why Celtic should move on from James Forrest

The 33-year-old winger is heading into the final year of his current contract at Parkhead and it may be best for the club to either move him on permanently or to send him out on loan for the season to go and play regular football, recouping a percentage of his wages for the campaign in the process.

Forrest has not done enough on the pitch in the current term to justify being one of the top three earners at the club, or to justify a regular place in the team in the 2025/26 campaign, which is to be expected at his age.

The experienced dud showed signs of life in the 2023/24 season, with a very respectable return of seven goals in 28 appearances in all competitions, but he has failed to deliver on the pitch this year.

Forrest cost his side in the 1-0 defeat to bottom-of-the-table St. Johnstone last weekend when he failed to beat the goalkeeper from close range after Adam Idah put the ball on a plate for him in the middle of the box, with Celtic losing 1-0 at the time.

James Forrest (Premiership)	23/24	24/25
Appearances	22	17
Goals	6	0
Big chances missed	6	3
Conversion rate	16%	0%
Big chances created	3	3
Assists	1	4
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Scottish forward has not scored a single goal in the Premiership this season, despite having three ‘big chances’ to find the back of the net.

In fact, Forrest has not scored a single goal in 25 appearances in all competitions this term. The likes of Greg Taylor, Auston Trusty, Jeffrey Schlupp, and Alistair Johnston – who all play in defence – have outscored him by scoring once in all competitions.

This illustrates just how poor the experienced winger has been in front of goal, which was on full display when he missed a chance to draw Celtic level at the weekend.

There is no doubt that Forrest has been an excellent servant for the club, scoring 109 goals in 520 matches to date, but his form this season suggests that this summer would be the right time to ruthlessly ditch him, whether permanently or on loan, due to his high wages compared to other players who play week-in-week-out and contribute more in the final third.

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When you consider that Maeda has scored 30 goals in all competitions, playing in a similar position, and reportedly earns less than him, it seems to be the right call to move on from Forrest this summer.

Celtic are already probing for reinforcements this summer and have now set their sights on a talented gem who could offer a towering presence at Parkhead, per a report.

Celtic look to kickstart summer transfer business

The Bhoys are marching towards the end of the season in style and could finish the campaign with a domestic treble should they defeat Aberdeen at Hampden later this month.

Brendan Rodgers has once again shown his managerial prowess, domestically and in the Champions League, which he will hope can help his case in earning significant backing from the Hoops’ hierarchy this summer.

Looking ahead to the window, Celtic could make a surprise move for Aberdeen goalkeeper Ross Doohan to help fill their homegrown quota for European competitions next term.

Scott Bain could leave Parkhead in search of first-team football, and the Lennoxtown academy graduate fits the bill as a club-trained asset ready to step in.

Sarpsborg winger Sondre Orjasaeter is also on the list at Parkhead, though it remains to be seen whether Celtic will firm up interest in the Norwegian once the window opens for business.

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Despite excitement over potential arrivals, Celtic aren’t assured of their place in next year’s Champions League league phase and need to navigate the final qualifying round to certify a spot in the competition.

Nevertheless, speculating to accumulate has to be the aim for the reigning Scottish Premiership champions. They have enough money in the bank to make a statement, so expect some exciting new faces to strengthen Rodgers’ talented group.

Casting an eye to the continent, Celtic are now in the mix to sign a towering young defender who could add further strength to their backline.

Celtic very interested in signing Veljko Milosavljevic

According to Max Sport, Celtic are ‘very interested’ in giant Red Star Belgrade defender Veljko Milosavljevic as Rodgers looks to add further solidity heading into next season.

For now, the Bhoys have been told the 17-year-old isn’t for sale, which is a stance that could change as clubs from England and France position themselves to sign the Serbia Under-19 international, who stands at 6ft 4.

Veljko Milosavljevic’s season for Red Star Belgrade – all competitions

Appearances

28

Goals

0

Assists

3

Prioritising the future, Celtic are always in the market for talent with sell-on value. While experience is always a bonus, the scope to develop stars of the future is a major avenue towards the club earning significant capital to reinvest.

Carrying the ball from deep, Milosavljevic has completed an average of 1.9 dribbles per match in the Serbian top-flight, illustrating a degree of comfort in possession that would fit Rodgers’ high-octane tactical framework.

Nevertheless, growing competition for his signature will leave Celtic with work to do as they look to convince another prodigious star to commit their future at Parkhead.

The thought of winning regular silverware and competing in European football may well be a tempting one for Milosavljevic, but you get the impression he will also need first-team guarantees.

For the second Premier League season in a row, Arsenal look set to have the best defence in the competition.

However, as they did last year and the year before that, Mikel Arteta’s side have failed to get over the line, with Liverpool being the ones to deny them this time.

The Reds have conceded four goals more than the Gunners but, as things stand, have scored a whopping 17 goals more than them.

Premier League’s top five

#

Team

GF

GA

Pts

1

Liverpool

81

35

82

2

Arsenal

64

31

67

3

Man City

67

43

64

4

Newcastle

66

45

63

5

Chelsea

62

41

63

It’s no secret, then, that the North Londoners desperately need some attacking reinforcements this summer, and it’s not hard to see who they are taking inspiration from, as reports have linked them to a player compared to Mohamed Salah.

Arsenal transfer news

With the gap in attacking output as vast as it is, Arsenal are understandably on the lookout for some serious game-changers, like Florian Wirtz and Viktor Gyokeres.

Transfer Focus

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

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The former would reportedly cost the club a whopping £111m, but given his tally of 29 goal involvements this season and the fact he’s only 22 years old, it’d be hard to claim he’s not worth it.

Likewise, while the £70m price tag for Gyokeres is undeniably steep, it’s also undeniably fair enough, as in just 49 appearances this season, he’s scored a staggering 52 goals and provided 12 assists.

However, if the Gunners are after a Salah-esque player, he’s got to be a winger, which would explain the interest in Bryan Mbeumo.

According to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Arsenal are determined to bring in another winger this summer, and one of Andrea Berta’s most significant targets is the Brentford man.

The Cameroon international has been on the club’s shortlist for months now, and while the Bees are after around £51m, there is hope in North London that they’ll be open to negotiating.

It might end up being a rather costly transfer to get done, but given Mbeumo’s superb output, it would most certainly be worth it, especially as he’s won comparisons to Salah.

Why Mbeumo is like Salah

So, when it comes to winning comparisons to first-class players, there aren’t much more flattering than Salah, so where does Mbeumo’s come from?

Well, in this instance, it was TalkSPORT’s Jason Cundy, who was full of praise for the Brentford star and called him “a mini-Salah” following his brilliant performance and goal in the Bees’ 4-2 win against Newcastle United in December.

Now, it’s important to note the “mini” part of that compliment, as, at the end of the day, nobody is suggesting that the former Troyes star is on the same level as the league-winning Egyptian, but there is no reason he couldn’t fulfil a similar enough role in N5.

After all, despite playing for a team who are generally mid-table at best these days, the often “unplayable” winger, as dubbed by manager Thomas Frank, is nothing short of prolific.

For example, in just 27 appearances last season, the 25-year-old managed to score nine goals and provide seven assists, which came out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.68 games.

Mbeumo’s recent form

Season

23/24

24/25

Appearances

27

39

Minutes

2079′

3307′

Goals

9

18

Assists

7

8

Goal Involvements per Match

0.59

0.66

Minutes per Goals Involvement

129.93

127.19

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Then this season, he’s found the back of the net 18 times and provided eight assists in 39 appearances, which comes out to a brilliant average of a goal involvement every 1.5 games.

Finally, another valuable trait the Avallon-born monster possesses is the ability to play up top and as a second striker as well as off the right, meaning he’d provide Arteta with even more attacking options – something he desperately needs.

Ultimately, Mbeumo is a Premier League-proven goalscorer, and while he might not be as prolific as Salah, he’s still an incredible attacking talent and someone Arsenal should sign.

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Nottingham Forest have now joined the race for a “fantastic” forward, who is also wanted by Premier League rivals Manchester United and Manchester City, according to a report.

Forest set sights on new winger

The calibre of player Forest are able to attract will depend heavily on whether they are able to achieve their dream of qualifying for next season’s Champions League, but they have now started to identify some top-level targets in wide areas.

One such player is Marseille star Luis Henrique, with the Tricky Trees making contact to discuss a move to the City Ground with the Brazilian’s agents, although there could be competition from Newcastle United and Inter Milan.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are also plotting to hijack West Ham United’s move for Galatasaray winger Baris Alper Yilmaz, with the 24-year-old set to leave the Turkish club at the end of the season, amid widespread interest in his services.

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Another winger who is attracting a lot of attention is Feyenoord’s Anis Hadj Moussa, with a report from France revealing the 23-year-old is now in Nottingham Forest’s sights ahead of a potential summer transfer swoop, but they are not alone in the race.

Man United and Man City are also eyeing a move for Moussa, so there could be fierce competition for his signature at the end of the campaign, with Lille also expressing an interest during the January transfer window.

The Tricky Trees are yet to make any formal moves to sign the Feyenoord forward, and it is unlikely they make an approach until they seal Champions League qualification, which will provide Nuno with extra funds for the summer transfer window.

That said, a move is unlikely to break the bank regardless, given that previous reports have revealed that a deal could be possible for a fee of just £10m.

"Fantastic" Moussa impressing in the Netherlands

It has been an impressive debut campaign with Feyenoord for the 23-year-old, having been lauded as “fantastic” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig earlier this season, given his exploits in front of goal.

The Algeria international, who has been compared to both Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Ododi, as per FBref, has six goals and two assists to his name in the Eredivisie, while he has also bagged three goals in the Champions League, indicating he is the calibre of player Forest will need to bring in this summer ahead of a potential European campaign.

Kulig has also dubbed the Paris-born winger “one of Europe’s most pleasant surprises”, and his performances for Feyenoord this season indicate he could now be ready to make the step-up to the Premier League.

As such, it is exciting news that Forest could be in the race for Moussa’s signature this summer, at which point they will need to strengthen their squad depth, should they secure European qualification.

Liverpool’s full-backs have been some of the major talking points ahead of the summer transfer window, with Arne Slot needing to add to his squad to sustain their recent success.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to depart Anfield this summer after announcing he won’t be extending his current contract with the club, looking set to move to Spanish giants Real Madrid.

Andy Robertson has been the Reds’ main left-back over the last few years, but at the age of 31, he’s entering the back end of his professional career, with reinforcements needed in such an area.

Kostas Tsimikas is Slot’s backup to the Scotsman, but both could yet depart the club this summer, opening the door to added investment from the hierarchy to improve the department.

Multiple names have already been tipped to strengthen their defensive unit, with various names in the mix ahead of the opening of the summer transfer window.

The latest on Liverpool’s hunt for new defenders

Centre-back Dean Huijsen is a player who has been on Liverpool’s radar over the last couple of months, even holding talks with the defender’s representatives over a move to Merseyside.

However, it appears as though they’ve fallen behind in the race for the Spaniard’s signature, with Chelsea edging ahead by making a proposal to land his services ahead of 2025/26.

He’s not the only player who’s appeared on their shortlist as of late, with Wolves left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri the latest name to emerge as an option for Slot’s side, according to The Telegraph.

The report claims that the 23-year-old is admired by the Reds, but that Vitor Pereira’s side are wanting to hand him a new contract to prevent any interest in his services.

However, if they are unable to come to terms over a new deal, they would have to sell the Algerian international, but would demand a fee in the region of £50m to part ways with the talented ace.

Why Liverpool’s £50m target would be the dream Kerkez alternative

Bournemouth star Milos Kerkez is a player who’s been at the top of Liverpool’s shopping list over the last few months, as Slot looks to add depth to the left-back department.

The Hungarian has been a star in the Cherries’ unlikely push for European football, starting every single game throughout the 2024/25 Premier League season – the most of any player in the squad.

After such consistent showings, Andoni Iraola’s side have placed a £40m price tag on the youngster to part ways with him during the off-season.

He could be an excellent option and one that could nail down the role for many years to come, but the club may be better off targeting a move for another star instead.

When comparing Kerkez’s stats to those of Ait-Nouri’s, the Wolves star has managed to outperform him in numerous key areas – highlighting what a superb addition he would be for the Reds.

The Algerian, who’s been labelled “incredible” by former boss Gary O’Neil, has registered more combined goals and assists this campaign, whilst also notching more key passes – showcasing the attacking threat he carries.

He’s also completed more take-ons per 90, whilst also completing more of the passes he’s attempted, aiding players in forward areas to improve their own tallies.

Games played

34

35

Goals & assists

11

7

Pass accuracy

84%

75%

Key passes completed

1.2

0.9

Tackles won

1.6

0.7

Blocks made

1.3

1

Take-ons completed

1.8

0.5

Aerials won

42%

34%

However, Ait-Nouri has been just as impressive, winning more tackles and making more blocks per 90, handing Slot the added defensive solidity to win the division for a second successive year next season.

Whilst Kerkez will remain many supporters’ number one option for this summer, it’s evident that the Wolves star has all the qualities to thrive in the left-back role on Merseyside.

He could be the answer to their long-term ambitions at the back, potentially allowing the fans to forget about the Hungarian and take the side to the next level in the process.

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1 ByEthan Lamb May 7, 2025