After failing to win once more in the Scottish Premiership, one journalist believes that Russell Martin is done at Ibrox and has suggested when Rangers could decide to sack their manager.
Martin admits Ibrox atmosphere is "difficult"
It couldn’t have been a much worse start for Martin. Rangers have been inescapably woeful. The Gers sit 10th and haven’t won a single game in five attempts in the Scottish Premiership to mark their worst start to a league campaign in 47 years. It’s history that the 49ers do not need at the start of a new era and history that Ibrox has turned toxic in the face of.
Boos echoed around the stadium as Rangers fell to defeat once again last weekend. Even as Martin returned from the tunnel after half-time, he was met with the anger of his own home fans. This time it was Hearts who benefitted, picking up their first Ibrox victory since 2014, and compiling Martin’s misery to a new level entirely.
Martin admitted that the atmosphere at Ibrox is currently “difficult”, but also claimed that some fans didn’t want him at the club in the first place – telling reporters: “I don’t think many of them wanted me here in the first place.
“We have a lot of new guys in there. We have a lot of players trying to feel their way in an environment that’s really difficult to feel their way into. Really, really difficult. So we just have to make sure they’re alright as human beings first and improve their performance. But there’s anxiety at the moment.”
Rangers flop who's "not helped his team" is as big a problem as Martin
This Glasgow Rangers flop has been as much of a problem for the team as Russell Martin this season.
ByDan Emery Sep 16, 2025
Whether that is the case or not, however, there’s no denying that time is running out for Martin to save his job and one journalist has now set a date that he could be sacked.
When Rangers could sack Russell Martin
According to the Daily Record’s Andy Newport, Martin could be sacked if he doesn’t get a result against Hibernian in the Scottish Cup on Saturday. If the Gers exit the cup competition, it will mark five games without a win and potentially game over for Martin’s tenure.
Newport told Daily Record: “In the eyes of the supporters, he’s toast, he’s done. When he came in, it was the most lukewarm of receptions he got when he was appointed, and the scepticism and the concerns the fans have had since then have only grown. If Martin doesn’t get a result against Hibs, that’ll be the end for him.”
That verdict is no real shock. The biggest surprise is arguably that he is still in a job after the Hearts game and Ibrox’s reaction to that result. Alas, as things stand, Martin seemingly has one last chance to save his job in Scotland.
Leeds United’s squad of 2019/20 will go down in history, with the Whites sealing a return to the Premier League after a 16-year absence under Marcelo Bielsa in what was the club’s 100th anniversary.
Patrick Bamford played a key role in that side, but after seven years at Elland Road, has now left the club. The striker was not in Daniel Farke’s Premier League plans after Bamford became a two-time Championship winner with Leeds and mutually had his contract terminated.
Back in 2020, Bielsa had 18 players in his Leeds squad who made 10 or more Championship appearances as the Whites eventually won the league by 10 points ahead of West Brom.
Wins
28
Draws
9
Losses
9
Points
93
Goal difference
+42
Biggest win
Leeds 5-0 Stoke City
Now, following Bamford’s Leeds exit, we’ve had a look at where the rest of the 2019/20 squad are in 2025.
18 Kiko Casilla 36 appearances
Kiko Casilla Leeds United
Goalkeeper Kiko Casilla officially left Leeds in 2022, having his contract terminated a year early.
The Spaniard made 36 Championship appearances in 2019/20, and after leaving the Whites, signed for Getafe before retiring in 2023.
17 Luke Ayling 37 appearances
A regular at right-back and the scorer of that wonderful volley against Huddersfield Town, Luke Ayling is currently at Championship side Middlesbrough.
He initially moved to the Riverside on loan in 2024 before making a move permanent and is under contract until 2026.
16 Ben White 46 appearances
Ben White for Leeds United
Starting every Championship game that season, Ben White would seal a big-money move to Arsenal in 2021, where he has gone on to be a regular.
Costing around £50m, White has featured as a centre-back or right-back and is under contract at the Emirates until 2028.
15 Liam Cooper 38 appearances
Leeds defender Liam Cooper.
Captain of the side, Liam Cooper, left Leeds in 2024 after making 284 appearances for the Whites.
He swapped Yorkshire for Bulgaria and CSKA Sofia, but after just over 12 months, became a free agent in 2025.
14 Ezgjan Alioski 39 appearances
Initially a left-winger, Ezgjan Alioski turned into an attacking full-back under Bielsa and scored five Championship goals in 2019/20.
He featured regularly in the Premier League in 2020/21 but left that summer for Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli. Alioski also played for Fenerbahce before returning to Swiss side FC Lugano, where he is under contract until 2027.
13 Kalvin Phillips 37 appearances
A vital member at the base of Bielsa’s midfield was Kalvin Phillips, who sealed a £50m move from Leeds to Manchester City in 2022 after starring under the Argentine.
Things didn’t go to plan for the holding midfielder at the Etihad, though, with Phillips having loan spells at West Ham and Ipswich Town. In the summer of 2025, he was looking for another new club but is still under contract with City.
12 Stuart Dallas 45 appearances
Leeds defender Stuart Dallas.
A versatile star under Bielsa, Stuart Dallas transformed into a Leeds legend but suffered a serious injury against Manchester City at Elland Road in 2022.
He would officially retire from football two years later after failing to recover, ending in 267 Leeds appearances in all competitions. Dallas now works as a pundit for Sky Sports’ EFL coverage.
11 Helder Costa 43 appearances
A loanee for the 2019/20 season, Helder Costa’s Leeds move became permanent in 2020, however, he had spells with Valencia and Al-Ittihad before being released at Elland Road in 2023.
The winger then played in Portugal with Estoril and China with YN Yukun, but as of the summer of 2025 and at the age of 31, Costa was without a club.
10 Mateusz Klich 44 appearances
Box-to-box midfielder Mateusz Klich became a cult hero at Elland Road and, after starring for Leeds, was allowed to join DC United in 2023.
The Poland international joined Atlanta at the end of 2024, and then in August 2025, returned to his native country with Cracovia, where he is under contract until 2027.
9 Jack Harrison 46 appearances
Jake O'Brien and Jack Harrison in action
Still at Leeds is winger Jack Harrison, who had two loan spells with Everton following Leeds’ Premier League relegation back in 2023.
Having work to do to get the Leeds fans back on side, Harrison is still under contract at Elland Road until 2028 and appears to be in Farke’s plans.
Liverpool’s diligence and careful planning over the past several years has allowed Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards to ride the crest of a wave of intent in the summer transfer market.
While the Reds’ defensive line was hampered by the departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold at the end of last season, Anfield’s vice-captain now coloured in Real Madrid white, FSG acted incisively to wrap up deals for new full-back pairing Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, joining from Bournemouth and Bayer Leverkusen respectively.
The latter was the first to arrive, and boasts an electric kind of skill set which lends itself to a more attacking berth too. In this way, he can contest with Conor Bradley for a starring role while covering for Mohamed Salah on the right wing.
Frimpong certainly has offensive quality, once hailed as a “monster in the final third” by The United Stand’s Beth Tucker. Excitingly, he’s not even Liverpool’s best Leverkusen addition this summer, with Florian Wirtz welcomed to the fold for a British-record £116m fee.
The attacking midfielder has the lot, and will likely upgrade on the club’s existing attacking midfield options while concurrently replacing Alexander-Arnold’s limitless creativity.
Why Liverpool signed Florian Wirtz
Slot opened with an interesting gambit this summer, reorienting Liverpool’s creative focal point. Trent has long been regarded among the crème de la crème of playmaking in the Premier League, but he’s gone, and the champions were right in signing world-class talent more aligned with tactical conventions.
Florian Wirtz
Wirtz, 22, has been an utter menace for Bayer Leverkusen over the past several years, bursting from the youth scene with gusto, flooring seasoned professionals with his bounding strides. In 2023/24, he earned the honour of Bundesliga Player of the Year, vital in toppling Bayern Munich after an invincible domestic campaign.
He’s the real deal and will add more flair and flavour to a title-rich Liverpool team. Wirtz has something most every attacking midfielder yearns for: he brings completeness defined by its artful and industrious mix.
For example, Dominik Szoboszlai is a fantastic player, crucial for Liverpool, but he lacks the potency and speciality that Wirtz brings to the table.
Matches (starts)
31 (25)
36 (29)
Goals
10
6
Assists
12
6
Touches*
73.4
46.1
Shots (on target)*
2.5 (1.3)
1.9 (0.6)
Pass completion
82%
86%
Big chances created
17
12
Key passes*
1.8
1.6
Dribble success
2.6
0.6
Ball recoveries*
3.6
3.7
Tackles + interceptions*
1.3
1.4
Duels won*
5.2
2.8
Harvey Elliott’s feet wear a similar magic, but he lacks the clear definition of his German counterpart. Elliott, 22, has been touted with a move away from Merseyside this summer, Brighton and Borussia Dortmund among the frontrunners.
Should the Young Lion leave, Slot will want a replacement, and while Liverpool have one of the very best in Wirtz, they appear keen on signing yet another attacking midfielder who could bloom into one of Europe’s finest.
Liverpool prepare bid for La Liga sensation
According to Spanish sources, Liverpool are interested in signing Barcelona’s Fermin Lopez this summer. Fermin, 22, has enjoyed a fast rise from La Masia and is valued at €80m (roughly £69m).
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
However, Hansi Flick’s focus on bringing attacking additions to Camp Nou has cast doubt over the Andalusian midfielder’s future, and Liverpool are ready to take advantage.
In fact, Anfield’s sporting director, Richard Hughes, is believed to be preparing a bid for the versatile star.
FC Barcelona'sFerminLopezin action with Las Palmas' Stefan Bajcetic
Liverpool might have signed Wirtz, but there’s room for such a profile to work on improving and blooming into a player of the highest class.
Why Liverpool want Fermin Lopez
Fermin is still young but he’s already established himself in a Barcelona side currently celebrating their La Liga and Copa del Rey double last year. The Spaniard also played a part in winning UEFA EURO 2024.
Spain'sDaniOlmo, Marc Cucurella and Fermin Lopez celebrate with the trophy after winning the final
In total, he’s played 88 matches for the La Blaugrana senior side. With 19 goals scored and 11 assists laid on for his teammates, Fermin has a developing sharpness that has been utilised both centrally and out on the left flank.
In this manner, he’s not too dissimilar to Wirtz, especially when considering he ranked, per 90, among the top 10% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues last season for goal contributions, the top 12% for pass completion, the top 9% for passes into the final third and the top 20% ball recoveries, as per FBref.
His positional fluidity and ball-playing focus link Fermin together with Liverpool’s new record man. However, there’s more. Digging deeper into the comparison, Fermin has been described by talent scout Jacek Kulig as being “simple and genius at the same time”.
There are exciting similarities in regard to the playmaking and pass-focused sides of the respective midfielders’ games, but don’t expect Fermin to bring as flashy and electric a game to Merseyside. He’s not that type of player.
However, Fermin’s alternate variation would give Liverpool the added dimension they need to continue to go from strength to strength under Slot’s wing.
FC Barcelona's Pau Cubarsi, JulesKoundeand Fermin Lopez celebrates their first goal scored by Raphinha
Across 28 La Liga fixtures in 2024/25, as per Sofascore, he scored six goals and supplied five assists, so he might be a somewhat more pragmatic player but he’s certainly not without his offensive uses.
Without overextending with his creativity, Fermin manages to play that Wirtz-esque passing game in an industrious and controlled manner. He will collect the ball so many times across the 90, parcelling it out this way and that.
Liverpool enjoyed a stunning 2024/25 campaign, but they were felled at points – in particular in crash-out losses against Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United – with both fixtures underscoring the need for more control and technical proficiency in the engine room.
Not that the Reds are lacking in that regard, just that they could do with that extra injection to win the lot next season. Wirtz and Fermin in tandem would likely help in that regard, for sure.
Slot's answer to Gyokeres: Hughes lines up Liverpool move for "crazy" CF
Liverpool have been named among the interested parties for this prolific forward.
West Bromwich Albion fans will want to see their team break free of their tag of nearly-men in the Championship promotion race this coming season.
The Baggies have now been outside the luxuries of the Premier League for four seasons on the spin, with Carlos Corberan clinching a playoff spot for the West Midlands side during the 2023/24 season, only for a semi-final exit to crush their promotion dreams.
It will be up to rookie manager Ryan Mason to finally guide West Brom back up to the Premier League, with the powers that be at the Hawthorns going down a brave, new route in offering the inexperienced 33-year-old the reins.
He might well look to utilise his former Tottenham Hotspur connections when attempting to land gems in the transfer market, with Mikey Moore one North London prodigy that continues to stick out.
Latest on West Brom's pursuit of Moore
It has been a long-standing rumour at the Hawthorns this summer that West Brom are interested in bringing the 17-year-old sensation to the Championship.
After all, the teenage attacker does boast an astounding return of 19 goals from 24 appearances for Spurs’ U19s, on top of also showing off his class in senior action when powering home his first-ever men’s goal for Thomas Frank’s men last season in the Europa League.
But, it could be argued that West Brom are already strong down both the left wing and right wing – where Moore regularly roams – with Tom Fellows, Jed Wallace, and Mikey Johnston all at Mason’s disposal. Between them last season in the second tier, the entertaining trio would tally up a hefty 27 goal contributions.
Moreover, with experience perhaps preferred when looking for fresh recruits down the wing as ex-Derby forward Tom Lawrence continues to be linked, the Baggies might look to other faces in the Spurs academy to bolster their squad, with a loan return for this striker potentially on the menu as a better pick-up than Moore.
How Mason could seal a better signing than Moore
If there was an area on the pitch that fills West Brom with anxiety, it would be up top in the centre-forward position.
West Brom haven’t been blessed with lady luck in this department, considering Josh Maja found himself out of action from January onwards last campaign when picking up an unfortunate injury, away from Daryl Dike also being a regular member of the Hawthorns treatment room.
Josh Maja
26
12
44
Karlan Grant
44
7
4
Devante Cole
16
0
0
Daryl Dike
11
1
133
Therefore, to ensure they don’t leave themselves short on numbers in attack, West Brom could soon welcome back former loan face Will Lankshear to Mason’s camp, with Football London reporting earlier this week that the Baggies want to secure the temporary signature of the 20-year-old once more, alongside other Championship suitors sniffing around.
Lankshear did endure a testing loan stint with the club last season, with zero goals picked up across 11 appearances, but he was shoved into the deep-end arguably, considering he joined the building right in the midst of West Brom’s promotion push falling flat.
He only started four of those league clashes too, and with such a glowing track record in youth circles at Spurs – much like Moore – Mason might well be the perfect manager to get the most out of Lankshear in a senior set-up, having worked with him closely in North London.
Amazingly, the “phenomenal” forward – as he was labelled by journalist John Wenham – has an even sturdier goal tally next to his name for the Spurs U21s than Moore has managed in his age bracket, with a venomous 26 strikes amassed from just 35 contests.
Even if Maja is back to full fitness this coming season, adding in Lankshear wouldn’t hurt, with the 20-year-old hotshot no doubt able to enhance his game bouncing off of such an experienced EFL head.
With their highest average age across the lineup coming in at 28.7 last season, adding in stars of the future, such as the England U20 international, could be a worthwhile move, as Mason attempts to leave his mark on the Baggies to try and push his new employers up the league.
After Nat Phillips: West Brom could sign "sublime" Fellows replacement
If West Bromwich Albion are powerless to Tom Fellows leaving, this sublime star joining the building could be his best possible replacement.
Thomas Frank’s appointment at Tottenham Hotspur has started a new era at the football club, looking to build on the progress made by Ange Postecoglou.
The Aussie won the Europa League in his final game in charge, securing their place in the Champions League and handing the supporters a memorable night at the end of a dismal season.
Such a decision to sack him may have appeared harsh, but it now hands the former Brentford boss the opportunity to create new history for the club in North London.
With the summer transfer window once again open for sides to make new additions, the hierarchy have already wasted no time in targeting moves to hand him with the tools he desires.
Numerous areas of the pitch are in need of investment to help provide quality and depth in key areas, especially if they are to be competitive in the Premier League and Europe.
The latest in Spurs’ hunt for new additions this summer
After Frank’s arrival, winger Bryan Mbeumo has been largely touted with a move to follow his former manager across the capital to join Spurs this window.
However, if they are to land the 25-year-old’s signature, they will have to fend off interest from Manchester United, with the Red Devils seemingly in pole position at present.
Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo celebrates after the match
Another name has entered the frame within the attacking department in recent days, with Rennes star Arnaud Kalimuendo firmly on their radar, according to French outlet L’Equipe.
Their report claims that the Lilywhites have been in talks with the Ligue 1 outfit over a deal for the 23-year-old, who’s scored 18 times across all competitions in 2024/25.
It also states that he’s valued at around the €25m (£21.3m) mark, but will face competition for his signature, with sides in Spain and Germany also wanting a move for the 23-year-old this summer.
Why Spurs’ latest target could be Frank’s next Wissa
As previously mentioned, Mbeumo was a key part of Frank’s success at Brentford, but striker Yoane Wissa also thrived under his guidance and reached levels never seen in his career before.
Brentford's YoaneWissacelebrates scoring their first goal
The DR Congo forward made 35 appearances in the league last time around, registering a total of 19 goals and four assists, forming an excellent partnership with the Cameroonian.
Like his current teammate, he’s been linked with a move to join Spurs this window, potentially following the manager in moving to the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.
However, they’re not alone in their hunt, with Nottingham Forest once again emerging in the race after having an offer rejected for him back in January.
If Frank is unable to land a reunion with Wissa, he should pursue a move for Kalimuendo, with the Frenchman having all the tools to be a threat in the Premier League.
Arnaud Kalimuendo celebrates for Stade Rennais.
The Rennes ace, who’s been labelled “one of the most prolific” stars by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has registered a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate, backing up the claim made about him.
He’s also completed more of the passes he’s attempted and registered a higher take-on success rate – handing Frank the all-round option he’ll need in North London.
Arnaud Kalimuendo
Stade Rennais
33
17
Hugo Ekitiké
Eintracht Frankfurt
33
15
Emanuel Emegha
Strasbourg
27
14
Benjamin Sesko
RB Leipzig
33
13
Mika Biereth
Monaco
16
13
Liam Delap
Ipswich Town
37
12
Thierno Barry
Villarreal
35
11
Joao Pedro
Brighton
27
10
Kalimuendo’s dominance doesn’t stop there, also registering more carries into the final third and more passes into the opposition area per 90, handing the attackers around him the chance to thrive too.
Whilst Wissa may appear to be a solid option given his time under the manager at the GTEC, a move for the Frenchman could allow the boss to land his next attacking star.
If he can transfer his skillset across to England, it would be a superb signing, having the potential to explode into an elite level talent given his tender age.
He's more exciting than Tel: Spurs now confident of signing £70m "monster"
The outrageously talented attacker will be incredible for Spurs.
Despite reaching a hefty 90 points in the Championship last season, Sheffield United are now resigned to another campaign in the second t ier
Both Burnley and Leeds United soared into the top two spots in the division at their expense with a mammoth 100 points each, leaving Chris Wilder’s men to fight it out in the cruel lottery of the playoffs.
Sheff Utd vs Sunderland
To make matters worse, the Blades headed into their playoff showdown at Wembley versus Sunderland having never been promoted via this nail-biting route, with that unlucky streak unfortunately continuing against the Black Cats.
It was Tommy Watson who broke United hearts with a last-gasp finish, but the chance would never have fallen to the feet of the new Brighton and Hove Albion youngster kindly if it wasn’t for an inexplicable moment of madness from Welshman Kieffer Moore.
His head-in-hands back-pass could be his last ever cursed moment donning Blades red and white, with Wilder and Co. perhaps tempted to move on the injury-prone striker, having blown hot and cold throughout last season.
Indeed, the experienced EFL attacker would miss 17 games in total due to injury, meaning these three strikers on the potential United shopping list could be viewed as upgrades on the often missing 32-year-old.
1 Emil Riis Jakobsen
Preston North End'sEmilRiisJakobsen misses a chance to score
Emil Riis Jakobsen would certainly come in and be a similar striker to Moore, considering the Dane boasts a towering 6 foot 3 frame when contrasted wit the ex-Cardiff City man’s imposing 6 foot 5 build.
The soon-to-be free agent has been on Wilder’s radar before according to reports, and with his Preston North End contract confirmed as not being renewed, now could be the perfect time to finally add him to his Blades roster as a back-up attacking body.
After all, Jakobsen did manage to better Moore’s six-goal haul just this season gone with 12 league strikes in total, with the likes of Tyrese Campbell presumably keen to bounce off such an experienced EFL head as promotion is sought after once more.
2 Oli McBurnie
Wilder could also look to the past when recruiting a possible Moore replacement, meaning a deal might soon be on the table for Oli McBurnie to spectacularly return to Bramall Lane.
This wouldn’t be an unusual deal for Wilder to sign off on, considering United were reportedly keen on adding the £2m-rated Scotsman back to their camp in January.
Moreover, with 29 strikes already in his back pocket for the Blades, he wouldn’t need a long time you imagine to get back up to speed with proceedings, having also chipped in with a respectable five strikes for current La Liga employers Las Palmas across the 2024/25 campaign.
It would all rest on whether the Yorkshire-born attacker would fancy swapping Spain for the challenges of the EFL again, but it could be an inspired switch if it clicks into gear.
3 Charlie Kelman
Away from going after seasoned Championship veterans, the Blades could look to Queens Park Rangers hotshot Charlie Kelman as an alternative up top after an explosive loan spell at Leyton Orient.
United have been recently linked with a move for the slick 23-year-old, and after years of not being handed that many meaningful first-team opportunities at Loftus Road, he might well fancy a switch to Wilder’s men to become an exciting reserve option.
Games played
46
Games started
37
Goals scored
21
Assists
5
Shots*
2.4
Shots on target*
1.1
Goal conversion %
19%
Big chances missed
20
Kelman would instantly burst into life leading the line for Richie Wellens’ promotion-chasers, as seen in his 21 strikes and five assists helping the O’s reach the League One playoff final, only to then fall at the vital finishing hurdle to Charlton Athletic.
Wilder and Co. tasted similar agony, but will hope landing promising new strikers such as Kelman can get them over the line this campaign to come.
Sheffield United expected to make swoop to sign "important" player for £0
The final day of the Premier League season saw controversy and agony for Aston Villa. Unai Emery’s side were on the cusp of qualifying for the Champions League, but ended up falling down to sixth in the table and only reaching the Europa League after a 2-0 loss away to Manchester United.
The controversial moment came with the scoreline at 0-0. Morgan Rogers, a key player for the Villans, stole the ball from Altay Bayindir’s grasp and converted home. However, the referee blew the whistle before the England international scored, meaning VAR could not intervene.
With Villa missing out on Champions League football, you may think that will stop them competing for the big signings this summer with those who did qualify. However, before the window has even opened, that does not seem to be the case.
The latest Villa transfer news
It seems like the Villans will need to bring in a new goalkeeper this summer. Recent reports suggest that Emiliano Martinez will leave the club, with former side Arsenal lining up a move if David Raya leaves North London.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
If that is the case, reports in one Spanish newspaper, via Sport Witness, suggest the Villans have placed a bid for his replacement.
That man is Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia, who is also wanted by La Liga giants Barcelona, as well as the Gunners and south coast outfit Bournemouth.
Espanyol's Joan Garcia makes a save
There is also interest from Bayer Leverkusen and Napoli, who have just won their fourth Scudetto. If Villa really have made a bid, it would need to be in the region of £21m, which is thought to be his release clause.
Why Garcia would be a good signing
There is perhaps no goalkeeper who is more highly rated in Europe this season than Garcia. The 24-year-old, who was born in Sallent de Llobregat, a small town outside of Barcelona, was named in WhoScored’s La Liga team of the season.
Indeed, that was the sort of impression he left on the rest of European football this term, hence the interest from Villa and co. Garcia kept eight clean sheets in 38 La Liga appearances for Espanyol this season.
RCDEspanyol'sJoanGarciain action with FC Barcelona's Hector Fort
According to FBref, there were just six goalkeepers in La Liga who kept more clean sheets than Garcia in 2024/25. Impressively, he made the most saves with 140, and had the fifth highest save rate of 75.5%.
Goals conceded per game
1.34
14th
Saves
140
1st
Saves per game
3.68
4th
Save percentage
75.5%
5th
Clean sheets
8
=6th
A colossus between the sticks, the 24-year-old was described as a “big game player” by football analyst Ben Mattinson. Garcia certainly stood up for the count against Real Madrid in 2024/25.
At the start of September, he made ten saves in a single game, which he repeated against Real Betis days later. In the return fixture in February, he kept a clean sheet to help his side win 1-0.
If Villa do bring Garcia to the club this summer, they will be hoping he can be as good as Pau Torres has been in that famous Claret and Blue shirt. The Spaniard made the move to Villa Park back in 2023 for £31.5m from LaLiga side Villarreal.
During his two-year stay at Villa Park so far, the defender has made 73 appearances, even managing to chip in with two goals and three assists, although both of those strikes came last season.
Once described as a “fantastic player” by former Man United midfielder Owen Hargreaves, Torres has been excellent for Villa. That is in spite of some injuries which he has been able to bounce back from.
If Villa do bring Garcia to the club this summer, they will surely be hoping he can have as much of an impact in the West Midlands as Torres has so far, following his own switch from Spain.
He certainly brings great pedigree, and will surely be hoping to have a big part to play as they look to win the Europa League next season.
Emery's next Saka: Aston Villa learn asking price for "elusive" star
Aston Villa are in the hunt for a Turkish winger this summer.
Chelsea’s Champions League ambitions are still in their own hands.
On Friday night, in a game that lacked quality for long periods, the Blues battled to a 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge, with Marc Cucurella the night’s only scorer, heading home a Reece James cross at the back post.
This goal prevented Enzo Maresca’s team from slipping out of the top five, and victory over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on the final day will secure Champions League qualification, although anything less would almost certainly see them miss out.
With the Conference League final in Wrocław to come, followed by the Club World Cup stateside, it’s set to be a busy summer on the pitch for the Blues, while, off it, you can better your bottom dollar that they’ll be active in the transfer market, with a new striker top of their list of priorities.
The latest on Nicolas Jackson's future
One man not involved in the victory over Man United was Nicolas Jackson, commencing his three-match suspension, having been sent off, following video review, for colliding with Sven Botman’s face last Sunday.
The Senegalese striker will also be banned for next weekend’s trip to Nottingham, as well as the opening day of next season in August, but where will he find himself in the pecking order by then?
Well, Maresca certainly views Jackson as an important figure, praising his out-of-possession work rate, and he has certainly been a key figure this season, scoring 12 goals in 33 appearances across all competitions, with nine of his ten in the Premier League coming before Christmas, which Ed Dove of ESPN described as the ‘finest goal-scoring run of his Chelsea career’.
Chelsea'sNicolasJacksonreacts after sustaining an injury
So let’s assess Jackson’s Premier League statistics this season, and how they compare to the rest of the division.
Minutes
2,220
129th
Goals
10
19th
Goals per 90
0.41
28th
Shots
76
15th
Shots on target
34
9th
Shots on target%
44.7%
28th
Goals per shot
0.13
65th
Goals – xG
-2.3
555th
Big chances missed
19
4th
The table underlines that Jackson is certainly not a clinical finisher, with only 13 players, out of 569, registering a lower goals – xG figure in the Premier League this season, while only three players have missed more Opta-defined big chances.
In summary, Jackson takes a lot of shots but not a lot of them are goals, so, if Chelsea are going to be competing to win the biggest trophies again, they probably need a better centre-forward, so could one be available?
Chelsea could land Nicolas Jackson upgrade
According to a recent report by Jörg Weiler and Yannick Hüber of Bild, Chelsea have been given the opportunity to sign Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy, claiming that he has a €70m (around £59m) release clause in his contract.
They added that Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, and Real Madrid are also interested, even if die Schwarzgelben’s sporting director Lars Ricken is insistent the striker will not move this summer.
So why are so many of Europe’s top clubs interested in Guirassy’s services?
Well, after scoring 30 goals for Stuttgart last season, he joined Dortmund for a reported fee of £14.7m in the summer, netting 33 times across all competitions during this campaign, including 13 in the Champions League, making him the joint-top scorer in the tournament, alongside Raphinha.
His Bundesliga statistics across the last two seasons are pretty impressive too.
Harry Kane
36
25
61
Serhou Guirassy
28
20
48
Loïs Openda
24
9
33
Ermedin Demirović
15
14
29
Tim Kleindienst
12
16
28
Benjamin Šeško
14
13
27
Omar Marmoush*
12
15
27
*joined Manchester City in January 2025.
As the table shows, only Harry Kane has scored more Bundesliga goals than Guirassy this season and last, the Guinean doing so in a largely dysfunctional Dortmund team this season, making his exploits all the more impressive.
As a result, Andrews Sefa of 3Sports labels him “clinical”, while Abdullah Mamaniyat of Breaking the Lines praises his ‘great movement’ and his ‘ability to create goals out of nothing’.
So, the big question remains: how does he compare to Jackson?
Well, let’s find out.
Appearances
77
74
Minutes
5,891
6,101
Goals
29
63
Assists
11
12
Goals – xG
-6
+6
Shots
179
221
Shots on target %
45.8%
44.8%
Shot-creating actions
166
171
Goal-creating actions
22
32
Touches per 90
26
35
As the table outlines, Guirassy comes out on top for almost every single metric included, with his goals – xG figure of +6 in stark contrast to the -6 posted by Jackson, which speaks to the gulf in quality between the two centre-forwards.
Ryan Benson of Opta’s the Analyst labels Guirassy ‘the complete striker’, an assertion all available statistics support, so it is clear that he would be a massive upgrade on Jackson, and his potential arrival, for just £59m, could take Chelsea to the next level with his clinical finishing in front of goal.
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Chelsea saw off Man United to restore their place in the Premier League’s top four.
Arsenal trio Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba have sealed new contracts in a major boost for Mikel Arteta, according to a report, but the Spaniard still faces the prospect of losing a “massive” player.
Andrea Berta tasked with keeping vital Arsenal stars
As Gabriel attracts reported interest from Saudi Arabia, and Saliba’s links to Real Madrid refuse to go away, it is vital that new sporting director Andrea Berta cements the long-term futures of Arsenal’s star centre-back duo with Saka.
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The Athletic recently reported that Arsenal have opened talks with Saliba over a new deal, and with Saka’s contract expiring in 2027, securing fresh terms for the latter is actually one of Berta’s top priorities.
“We will touch on several names, but I wanted to start with the top priority, which is absolutely Bukayo Saka,” said reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano on the Here We Go podcast last month.
“Bukayo Saka is out of contract in the summer of 2027, so it’s not something urgent, it’s not a worrying situation for Arsenal. But in general, Arsenal want to give a new contract to Bukayo Saka.
Arsenal 4-2 Leicester City
9.63
West Ham 2-5 Arsenal
9.47
Arsenal 3-1 Southampton
9.41
Arsenal 2-0 Wolves
8.72
Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest
8.40
via WhoScored
“So some contacts have already started. Now Bukayo and his agents will have the opportunity to meet with Andrea Berta to understand the strategy from the new director, and that’s always something important. You can start the conversation already months ago, of course, but then you need to speak to the new director to understand the view, to understand the project, and this is what’s going to happen with Bukayo Saka.”
All three Arsenal stars have played a pivotal role for Arteta since the beginning of 2022/2023 and beyond, with Gabriel and Saliba forming their stellar partnership around that time and Saka consistently standing out as England’s most exciting wide player.
Arsenal 'agree' Saka, Gabriel and Saliba deals but face Partey blow
According to Football Transfers, making a very bold claim this week, Arsenal have actually “already agreed” new deals for Saka, Gabriel and Saliba.
The outlet reports that they’re set to put pen to paper on extensions after progressive talks, which comes as some very good news for Berta and Arteta, but the same cannot be said for the reinvigorated Thomas Partey.
The £200,000-per-week midfielder has arguably enjoyed his best season to date at the Emirates, fighting his way back into Arteta’s starting eleven and bolstering a number of key positions, including right-back, in excellent fashion.
However, talks are yet to be resolved over the Ghanaian’s extension, and there is a realistic possibility that Arteta loses Partey when his current contract expires beyond June 30th.
While Arsenal have agreed to sign Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, this scenario is one Arteta will still be keen to avoid.
“He’s a massive player for us, and he’s shown that week in, week out,” said Arteta on Partey’s resurgent 2024/2025 form.
“He’s started the season really well, really fit. The way he came back post-holiday was probably in the best condition that he’s been.”
Wolverhampton Wanderers are in the market for attacking reinforcements this summer and look to be at the front of the queue for a proven goalscorer, per recent developments.
Wolverhampton Wanderers' forward line could be altered
Vitor Pereira is seen as a man of the people at Molineux and will likely be given the full support of both the club’s hierarchy and fans heading into the summer transfer window. However, Matheus Cunha’s uncertain future at Wolves is set to become one of the stories of the next few months amid rumours linking the Brazil forward with a high-profile move to Manchester United.
Matheus Cunha
After a return of 17 goals and six assists in 33 appearances, the 25-year-old has become one of the most sought-after forwards in the Premier League.
From a Wolves perspective, Cunha’s decision to sign a new deal earlier this year may offer some encouragement. Nevertheless, Arsenal, Aston Villa and clubs in the Saudi Pro League are also attentive to his situation.
Jorgen Strand Larsen is back in contention for the Old Gold off the back of missing out in their 1-0 defeat to Manchester City last weekend, which led to Jean‐Ricner Bellegarde operating as a central striker.
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The Old Gold are in the mix…
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Clearly, rotational options are needed in the final third to handle the rough and tumble of juggling top-flight football with domestic cup competitions.
Hwang Hee-chan has struggled for rhythm this campaign, begging the question of whether one or two could move out of the forward line to make way for new blood.
While Wolves plot how they will scale up ahead of next season, they are now said to be ahead of the rest in the hunt for one of England’s most prolific forwards over recent years.
Wolves leading the race to sign Jamie Vardy
According to Football Insider, Wolves are in ‘pole position’ to sign Jamie Vardy once his Leicester City contract expires at the end of the season. The former Three Lions international, who has been labelled “incredible” by Gary Lineker, is seen as someone that could be a valuable option off the bench for Pereira moving into 2025/26.
Jamie Vardy’s career tally for club and country
Appearances
568
Goals
243
Assists
88
Leeds United and Wrexham are also in the hunt to sign the 38-year-old, though he would prefer to stay in the Premier League rather than dropping down to join the latter following the Foxes’ relegation under Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Intriguingly, the Whites are said to have doubts over his longevity, paving the way for Wolves to steal a march on Daniel Farke’s side to push a deal over the line.
Deemed to be making the ‘biggest move’ to sign Vardy out of all his interested suitors, the Old Gold could now be on the verge of securing the signature of a clinical striker who wouldn’t cost a penny to bring in.
Admittedly, there may be doubters who question his value beyond the short-term, but experience can be a priceless commodity that shouldn’t be underestimated.