Glasgow Rangers transfer business has been a major cause for concern since the summer of 2021.

Plenty of managers have come and gone during that time, but not one has been able to say they enjoyed success in the transfer market.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst spent big on the likes of Ben Davies, Rabbi Matondo, and Ridvan Yilmaz, but they have hardly set the world on fire at Ibrox.

Michael Beale also had money to spend, but like his predecessor, it was wasted on flops such as Sam Lammers and Jose Cifuentes, who are now playing elsewhere.

Last summer, Robin Propper and Nedim Bajrami arrived in Glasgow under Philippe Clement, but they also failed to live up to the hype generated upon their move to Scotland.

Of course, not every signing has been poor. Nico Raskin has emerged as one of the club’s best players this season, winning the club’s Player of the Year. Todd Cantwell was solid in spells, while Hamza Igamane could generate a profit for the Light Blues following a stunning debut campaign.

Perhaps the player who could become one of the most important for the club is Mohamed Diomande, who has gone about his business without much fanfare since joining in January 2024, initially on loan.

Mohamed Diomande has been a great signing for Rangers

The Ivorian midfielder joined the Gers on a six-month loan deal in the 2024 winter window, which would become permanent that summer for a fee in the region of £4.3m.

It was a gamble, especially with the money involved, but the move turned out to be a success.

He showed glimpses of his ability during the loan spell, scoring twice in 19 games, grabbing an assist too, and it looked as though he could become a key figure in Clement’s midfield.

Able to operate either as a number ten or in a slightly deeper role, Diomande’s ability to run with the ball and glide past opponents ensures he is a success in either of these roles.

With the likes of Ianis Hagi and Tom Lawrence likely to leave this summer, a space for someone like Diomande to play higher up the pitch could be available regularly. This season, the 23-year-old has scored six and registered nine assists in all competitions for the Light Blues.

His game is well-suited to a more advanced role. When compared to his positional peers across the Europa League this season, the midfielder ranks in the top 6% for assists (0.23) and in the top 11% for successful take-ons (1.14) per 90.

He has still to reach his peak years as a player, and if Rangers can keep hold of Diomande under the new manager, he could become the new fulcrum of the team.

Whoever does take charge of the Glasgow giants on a permanent basis will be keen on making their own signings. It appears as though the 49ers Enterprises have earmarked a Brazilian midfielder as one of the first of a new era this summer.

Rangers need a new midfielder

Several names have already been linked with a move to Rangers ahead of the summer transfer window opening in a few weeks.

The 49ers will be aiming to build a side that can challenge Celtic for domestic dominance, hoping that the club will return to the summit of Scottish football once again.

According to the Scottish Sun last week, the Light Blues have earmarked Basel loanee Metinho as a top target this summer.

He is currently valued a £4m, which is a significant outlay for the club. A potential move could depend on whether the new manager can raise funds by selling some deadwood.

He will return to his parent club, Troyes, when the season finishes, but with Championship clubs showing interest, acting swiftly will be key.

With Raskin being touted for a move to England this summer, the 49ers will need to replace the Belgian international sufficiently.

If Metinho arrives in Scotland, he could fill the gap left by Raskin, which, in turn, would allow him to thrive with Diomande in the midfield.

Why Rangers must sign Metinho

Metinho came through the Fluminense academy and was one of the best prospects of his generation.

Indeed, in 2021, he was lauded by SelecaoTalk, who said: “Brazil’s best from his generation. He’s called ‘Little Pogba’.”

“He’s got everything, so complete. Very similar to Gerson who also came through the Fluminense academy.”

Moving to Europe later that year, the Brazilians struggled to make much of an impact. An 18-month loan spell at Sparta Rotterdam saw him demonstrate glimpses of his talent.

Comparing Raskin and Metinho domestically this season

Metric (per 90)

Raskin

Metinho

Tackles

2.9

3

Interceptions

0.7

1.1

Possession lost

10.1

6.2

Total duels won

6.6

4.7

Balls recovered

5.7

4.5

Accurate passes

46.7

29.3

Stats via Sofascore

It wasn’t until moving to Basel earlier this year, however, that the 22-year-old finally matured enough to perform consistently well.

Operating at the heart of the midfield, Metinho has played a solid role in the club winning their first league title since 2017.

Across ten matches, he averages three tackles and 1.1 interceptions per game domestically, while also recovering 4.5 balls per game for the Swiss side.

Furthermore, his ability to retain possession is excellent, losing the ball just 6.2 times per game. The midfielder even wins an impressive 4.7 total duels per game – a success rate of 66% – for Basel.

These statistics would not only make a solid replacement for Raskin, but also someone who could work well deployed behind Diomande at the base of the midfield.

As evidenced, the Ivorian star looks better when playing in a more advanced role. Having someone like Metinho mopping up everything behind him would certainly give Diomande plenty of freedom to attack.

Much will depend on the finances available to the new manager this summer. If the Brazilian is still available for around £4m by the time he arrives at Ibrox, it is a move which could be worth pursuing.

He could be a player who may generate a magnificent profit in the years to come for the Glasgow side.

Related Rangers could sign the next Ryan Kent with move for "outstanding" star

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Posts ByBen Gray May 16, 2025

Glasgow Rangers could be set to see their takeover by the 49ers Enterprises go through by the start of the summer transfer window.

It appears as though it is a matter of when and not if the US-based consortium will arrive at Ibrox, hopefully with plenty of financial investment to help bolster the squad.

There will be several major decisions to make ahead of pre-season. Working out who must stay and who should be sold is going to be crucial ahead of the 2025/26 season for Rangers.

Furthermore, choosing the correct manager to lead the club into this new era could be the most important decision the 49ers make.

Barry Ferguson has been the interim manager since Philippe Clement was given his marching orders a few months ago. He went to get the role on a permanent basis after overseeing just four wins from his ten games in charge at the time of writing, conceding 20 goals in the process.

With the end of the season in sight, the rumour mill has begun with regard to who will be the next manager of the Light Blues.

The managers linked with Rangers

The most surprising name linked with a move to manage the club is José Mourinho. He knows full well about the Ibrox atmosphere having seen his Fenerbahçe side defeated on penalties in the Europa League last month, even congratulating the squad in the dressing room after the game.

According to TEAMtalk, Mourinho would reportedly be keen on making the move to Glasgow, although he would need significant backing from the 49ers that they would provide him with funds to strengthen.

The Portuguese boss might not be at the top of his game compared to his previous successes, but he would certainly be box office.

Former Southampton manager Russell Martin is also a name that has been mentioned regarding the vacant managerial role.

The Scot is reportedly keen on taking over from Ferguson this summer and is reportedly waiting to hear from the hierarchy at the club to discuss a potential move.

Of course, Steven Gerrard has been linked with a return to Ibrox after being sacked by Al-Etiffaq in Saudi Arabia.

This news was once again reported by TEAMtalk. Gerrard knows what it takes to win with the club, having led them to their first league title in a decade during the 2020/21 campaign.

His previous two managerial roles ended poorly, however. They say never go back. Should the club make a move for the former Liverpool icon? Or is time to go in a totally new direction under new owners?

Marco Rose is a name that has been mentioned recently amid the talks of a takeover by the 49ers.

Why Marco Rose could be in contention

Rose was recently sacked by Bundesliga side RB Leipzig after two and a half years in charge.

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The 49ers have a strong relationship with Red Bull and with Rose having managed both RB Salzburg and RB Leipzig during his career so far, the connections are there to be made.

Gretar Steinsson, the 49ers Technical Director, has held discussions with managerial targets across Europe ever since the potential takeover was mooted and this could see the club look in a different direction.

RB Leipzig

2022-25

124

1.85

Borussia Dortmund

2021-22

46

1.85

Borussia Mönchengladbach

2019-21

88

1.61

RB Salzburg

2017-19

114

2.35

Lok Leipzig

2012-13

30

1.2

Via Transfermarkt

Rose worked with Steinsson during his spells in charge of both Salzburg and Leipzig, indicating that there is a prior relationship which could perhaps lead to Rose becoming one of the favourites for the vacant role at Ibrox.

This may just be a coincidence, but given his relationship with the Red Bull Group in recent years, Rose might be getting talked about as a potential new manager in the coming weeks, that’s for sure.

Why Rose could be a great alternative to Gerrard

The Ibrox faithful will forever have a place for Gerrard in their hearts, especially after claiming the Premiership title in 2021.

During his final few months, however, the football wasn’t pretty and the Light Blues were struggling majorly.

Spells at Aston Villa (sacked after less than a year) and Al-Ettifaq (left by mutual consent after 18 months) haven’t exactly done much to further his career after success with the Gers.

The only positive surrounding his potential return is that Gerrard knows the standards expected at Ibrox, meaning he could integrate a lot quicker than, say, Rose or someone else.

The case for Rose is also complicated, although he has managed one of the biggest clubs in Europe – Borussia Dortmund – between 2021 and 2022.

Rangers did defeat his side 4-2 during the knockout stages of the Europa League in the 2021/22 campaign as they set the standards on their way to the final that season.

Prior to that, he claimed two Austrian Bundesliga titles with Salzburg, also going on to win the Austrian Cup but it is his spell with Leipzig which was the longest of his career.

During his debut season, the 48-year-old secured the German Cup, but his Bundesliga placings got worse over his time with the club. Third was secured in 2022/23, before a fourth-place finish last season.

When he was sacked, Leipzig were sitting in sixth place and in danger of missing out on Champions League qualification.

He prefers to use a classic 4-4-2 system, which could be altered in several ways to suit the players at Rangers. Plus, he could be given money to bolster the squad in the transfer market should he join the club.

Scottish scout and analyst Kai Watson has heaped praise on Rose amid his name being mentioned with the job, saying: “I honestly can’t believe there’s snobbery around Marco Rose. Take the Celtic scarf picture out of the equation, claiming that he’s a bad or below average manager is truly a wild statement in my opinion. In profile/stature he’s a level above someone like Gerrard, by a distance.”

Interestingly, Rose has defeated Celtic four times in his managerial career, twice each with Salzburg and Leipzig. Of course, beating them with Rangers is a different challenge altogether, but he knows how to get the better of the Parkhead side.

That could be all the difference.

Rangers must axe £3m flop who has missed more games than Lawrence

Kevin Thelwell has a big job on his hands at Rangers

ByRoss Kilvington Apr 27, 2025

Liverpool mean business this summer. The finishing touches are being put on a deal for Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong, while Fabrizio Romano has since confirmed firm contacts have been made with Bournemouth for left-back Milos Kerkez.

And that’s only the beginning.

Arne Slot did a wonderful thing in sealing the Premier League title this season, not yet 12 months into his appointment as Jurgen Klopp’s successor.

Some would coin it an unenviable, insurmountable task, but it’s one the Dutchman has passed with flying colours, his side so dominant and controlled throughout the campaign.

The Premier League is Liverpool’s; no one saw it coming. But while the Reds embraced their underdog tag at the start of the term, there’s little question they will step into the new season with heightened expectations, even though Trent Alexander-Arnold is leaving.

Especially because Trent is off. Liverpool need to find a new world-class playmaker, and though both defensive wings are being strengthened, it’s Florian Wirtz who could be the vice-captain’s creative replacement.

Liverpool's interest in Florian Wirtz

Liverpool are one of the most fearsome attacking teams in the game, and have been for a good few years. However, Alexander-Arnold’s departure will be to the detriment of Anfield’s forward fluency.

That’s why it’s so important that FSG put their all into winning the race for Wirtz’s hotly-contested services. The Leverkusen man, 22, has hit 68 goal involvements across the past two seasons, winning an invincible domestic double last year.

Bayern Munich are confident they are the favourites, while Manchester City are also fixed in the battle as they prepare to lose Kevin De Bruyne. Liverpool, however, will pounce the moment they see a chance, though £126m would be quite the outlay.

Bundesliga

31

10

13

Champions League

9

6

1

DFB-Pokal

4

0

1

DFL Supercup

1

0

0

His prolific quality makes him a priority for Liverpool, but he’s not the only one. Indeed, with Darwin Nunez reportedly ready for a new challenge, it’s imperative that sporting director Richard Hughes makes the right decision in signing a replacement at number nine.

Liverpool in talks for new striker

According to Spanish sources, Liverpool are tussling with Chelsea for RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko, although early negotiations between the two parties have been difficult given his outfit’s lofty price tag worth £84m.

Leipzig’s failure to qualify for Europe has set them back considerably, with Sesko and Xavi Simons both expected to be sold.

This is music to FSG’s ears, having been locked in talks for Sesko’s signature and now taking more of the cards as the Bundesliga club are surely forced to lower their brow-raising financial demands.

Imagine Benjamin Sesko at Liverpool

Sesko is only 21 but already, across two campaigns in Germany, he’s established himself as an offensive profile capable of thriving for one of the biggest hitters on the continent.

Across 87 total appearances for Leipzig, the Slovenia international has scored 39 goals, also laying on eight assists.

Liverpool have found joy in raiding the German scene for exciting up-and-comers in recent years, and Sesko could be the perfect man to continue this trend, especially if he arrives in conjunction with Wirtz.

The Germany international’s flair and output would certainly go a long way toward helping Sesko find his feet. As per FBref, Wirtz ranks among the top 10% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues this season for assists, the top 7% for shot-creating actions and progressive passes, the top 2% for passes attempted and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90.

So active and influential across different areas, Wirtz is exactly what Liverpool need to reorient their creative centre and allow a player like Sesko to hit the ground running.

The Leipzig star has already been described as “one of the best young strikers in the world” by Redmen TV contributor Joe Baker, with his thunderous shot power, steely physicality and deceptive pace making him the prototypical modern striker.

Is it any wonder Liverpool are so desperate to get him on the books? Much of Sesko’s potential may be yet untapped, but as per Sofascore, he’s only missed 18 big chances across his two Bundesliga campaigns, scoring 23 goals, which highlights a natural clinical edge that Slot’s current focal frontman lacks.

Of course, you’d think he’d go from strength to strength on Merseyside too. Liverpool are an immense team with weapons from every angle. Sesko would enter a veritable hothouse for player development, fronted by a coach whose prowess can be found in the Premier League’s Player of the Year nomination for Ryan Gravenberch, the huge upswing in performance from Cody Gakpo.

In previous years, fans would be forgiven for assuming such signings lay beyond Anfield’s reach, but there’s something different about the Reds this summer, with plans being made to bolster heartily, signing any number of exciting new stars.

Sesko would be the frontman, and he’d be charged by a Leverkusen machine whose skills are unmatched. This season alone in the league, he’s created 17 big chances and has averaged 5.2 successful duels per game, bespeaking the creativity and completeness needed to form a framework from which Sesko can prosper.

Wirtz and Sesko are already two of the most exciting stars in their position, and they have yet to even reach their peaks. Slot would surely help them grow to the heights touted, and bring Liverpool plenty more silverware in the process.

Liverpool big admirers of £90m Wirtz alternative who's a Bellingham clone

Liverpool are interested in signing Florian Wirtz this summer.

2 ByMatt Dawson May 18, 2025

Manchester City are already lining up a few transfer targets ahead of the summer transfer window opening on June 1.

Florian Wirtz and Morgan Gibbs-White have both been earmarked as potential replacements for the departing Kevin De Bruyne.

That being said, City will have to splash the cash if they wish to land either, as the German is valued at £129m while Nottingham Forest are demanding £100m for their star player.

However, the Citizens are also looking to strengthen at the back.

Man City's search for a defender

Elsewhere, Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez is also reportedly emerging as a player Pep Guardiola wants to have at his disposal.

He isn’t the only full-back on City’s radar, however, as a current Serie A star could be on the move to England.

Transfer Focus

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In January, the Etihad side were keeping a close watch on Juventus defender Andrea Cambiaso, yet no move materialised back then.

Fast-forward a few months and Guardiola is keen to follow through on this initial interest when the transfer window opens, according to the Sun, who state that City still want to acquire him this summer.

Juventus appears to be closing in on a replacement for the Italian full-back, which could boost City’s pursuit of the player this summer.

A fee of around €60m (£50m) will be demanded by the Old Lady, one that is certainly affordable for the Manchester side.

While Kerkez would be an ideal long-term option at left-back, Cambiaso has much more experienced and has even enjoyed a better season from a statistical point of view than the Hungarian…

Why Andrea Cambiaso would be a better signing than Milos Kerkez

Kerkez has enjoyed a wonderful campaign for the Cherries throughout 2024/25, and it is perhaps no surprise the likes of City and Liverpool are looking to test their resolve with an offer.

Since joining from Genoa in 2022, Cambiaso has gone about his business steadily, but offers qualities at both ends of the pitch.

Andrea Cambiaso vs Milos Kerkez this season
Stats (per 90)	Cambiaso	Kerkez
Games	30	29 (29)
Goals	2	2
Assists	1	5
Touches	61.2	59.1
Pass completion	92%	80%
Key passes	1.0	1.0
Dribbles	0.8	0.6
Ball recoveries	3.6	4.5
Tackles + interceptions	1.9	2.6
Clearances	0.6	2.8
Duels (won)	3.1 (52%)	4.1 (53%)
Via Sofascore

There isn’t much between the two City targets, especially regarding attacking metrics, but the Italian does come out on top in a fair few.

Indeed, when assessing data supplied via FBRef, he has registered more shots per 90 (0.63 vs 0.51), shot-creating actions per 90 (3.41 vs 2.26), successful take-ons (25 vs 20) and more goal-creating actions (0.31 vs 0.27) than the Hungarian left-back this season domestically.

Furthermore, the Juventus star has registered a higher pass completion percentage (89.5% vs 75.2%) while winning a higher percentage of aerial duels (37.5% vs 35.2%) per 90 than the Bournemouth youngster.

He was even dubbed “world-class” by European football expert Zach Lowy last season and he could be the ideal fit for Guardiola at City.

Another bonus is his ability to play either on the right or left side of the defence, giving the manager plenty of flexibility when choosing his side. That’s something that the Cherries defender cannot offer. He is solely a left-back.

Kerkez will no doubt go on to have an excellent future in the game, that there is no doubt, but at the current time, Cambiaso could very well be the best signing for the club as they head into a new era next season.

Man City have struck gold on "exceptional" gem worth more than Kerkez

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By
Ross Kilvington

Apr 26, 2025

It may feel like we’re in the thick of the summer transfer window, Liverpool fans, but that’s not the case. Rather, FSG are working with incredible prudence to strengthen Arne Slot’s Premier League champions.

Trent Alexander-Arnold will likely feature for the final time as a Liverpool player on Sunday in the season’s closing game against FA Cup winners Crystal Palace, but sporting director Richard Hughes has already engineered and wrapped up a move for his successor.

Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong will play for the Merseysiders next season, with Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez also being pursued, discussions at an advanced stage.

Liverpool need something more in attack, too. While Mohamed Salah has forged an individual season for the ages, he’s perhaps been let down at times by his peers.

After penning a two-year extension, the Egyptian King needs to be supplemented by some elite-level firepower, someone capable of being his next Sadio Mane.

FSG may well have found just the man for the job.

Liverpool pushing to seal marquee signing

According to the Daily Mail’s Lewis Steele, Liverpool’s ambitious push to sign Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz is very much intact, with FSG doing everything in their power to bring the 22-year-old under Slot’s influence.

Transfer Focus

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

Liverpool have been locked in a transfer battle with Bayern Munich for the talented midfielder’s services, and have been emboldened in recent days after Manchester City dropped out the race. Die Roten, however, remain favourites at this stage.

The truth is Liverpool will do all they can to get a deal done for Wirtz, Germany’s poster boy. However, given that the Bundesliga champions are also doing everything in their power to sign the playmaker, it’s not going to be easy.

In spite of the Germany international’s €150m (equating to about £126m) price tag, FSG are willing to green-light a staggering club-record transfer.

Here’s why.

Why Wirtz could be Slot's new "superstar"

Some might question why Liverpool aren’t instead preparing to fork out a similar sum on Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, but if the Magpies seal a place in next season’s Champions League, the Swedish striker isn’t going anywhere.

And anyway, with Alexander-Arnold set to depart and take his boundless creativity with him, Liverpool need to find a new playmaker-in-chief.

That could be Wirtz, who, aged 22, has already overcome a crushing ACL injury to win an invincible domestic double, win the Bundesliga Player of the Year and be called “the best midfielder in the world” by former Werkself striker Patrick Helmes.

Attacking midfield

169

48

57

Left winger

21

4

5

Right winger

17

8

5

Centre-forward

15

7

7

Central midfield

5

0

3

He’s the real deal, all right. After just 197 senior appearances for his current club, the 5 foot 9 midfielder has scored 57 goals and supplied 65 assists, showcasing a level of reliability in the final third that the likes of Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai don’t project with the regularity of Salah.

Or Mane, for that matter. You could say that Wirtz stands a stellar chance of becoming Slot’s own version of the Senegalese legend, whose “world-class” attacking threat, as remarked by Jurgen Klopp, hasn’t yet been recaptured by any signing at Liverpool.

Mane signed for Liverpool in 2015, leaving Southampton for a £34m fee. He devoted the prime years of his career to Anfield and left a legend, instrumental in conquering the Premier League and the Champions League.

Though typically playing off the left, Mane was positionally fluid and made a menace of himself through remarkable powers of intensity, overwhelming his opponents before finding space to strike on goal.

Wirtz is more central (see the table above), but he does enjoy playing out on the left, with his heatmap from the 2024/25 Bundesliga campaign suggesting he drifts over more often than not.

It would give Slot a new tactical piece to play with, in any case. Wirtz has only missed eight big chances across Leverkusen’s league and European campaigns this year, scoring 16 goals. Moreover, he’s created 21 big chances, denoting his immense playmaking ability that will allow the Reds to transition away from the Alexander-Arnold era, such as it is.

As per FBref, Wirtz ranks among the top 8% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues this season for goal contributions, the top 7% for shot-creating actions and progressive passes, and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90.

The German’s unrelenting energy in driving the ball forward is something to be admired. It’s something, perhaps, that is Mane-esque.

With flair and fleet feet and a deadly switch when placed at the end of an attacking sequence, Wirtz is the real deal. ESPN correspondent Rob Palmer called him a “superstar in the making” a few weeks ago, but he may well already be of the highest station.

Liverpool need to get it done, giving Salah the perfect new attacking partner to win more silverware over the next few years.

He'd be incredible with Kerkez: FSG want to sign £50m "tank" for Liverpool

Liverpool are looking to make sweeping changes in the summer transfer market.

ByAngus Sinclair May 19, 2025

Chelsea will make contact over signing an England star, following internal talks behind-the-scenes at Stamford Bridge “this week”, with Enzo Maresca’s side mapping out their plans for the looming transfer window.

Chelsea have "big" recruitment plans this summer

As per reliable journalist Simon Phillips, BlueCo have “big” plans for the summer, and are aiming to take full advantage of the special edition early window ahead of their Club World Cup campaign.

Chelsea have held talks with £70m rival forward who allegedly wants to join

The west Londoners could go for him this summer.

ByEmilio Galantini May 14, 2025

From June 1 to June 10, Chelsea have a limited opportunity to register and officially sign new players before the CWC kicks off, and it is believed that Maresca’s side want a couple of their top targets through the door in that timeframe.

“Chelsea have some big plans that they are working on, and a number of players that they are looking to sign,” said Phillips in a recent Substack update.

2. Arsenal

68

3. Newcastle United

66

4. Man City

65

5. Chelsea

63

6. Aston Villa

63

7. Nottingham Forest

62

“There will also be more significant outgoing deals done, but the decision makers at the top of the club will have a lot of work to do and some huge decisions to make.

“First of all, we’ve heard that the club want to get a couple of their new signings in the door before the competition [CWC] starts so that they can get them in and ready for preseason.”

Unfortunately for Maresca, Chelsea appear resigned to missing out on Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen, with Real Madrid steaming ahead in the race and already agreeing a deal with the Cherries to pay his £50 million release clause (Fabrizio Romano).

Chelsea were confident of signing Huijsen and reportedly ready to make him a seven-year contract offer, but the Spain starlet’s representatives are now in Madrid as they negotiate terms with Los Blancos.

This story highlights how quickly the transfer market can evolve, not to mention the magnitude of competition facing Chelsea when it comes to signing their top targets.

Chelsea set for Eberechi Eze approach after internal talks this week

Back at the drawing board, those within Chelsea are believed to hold a serious admiration for Crystal Palace star and England international Eberechi Eze.

The attacking midfielder has a £68 million release clause in his contract, and Chelsea had him on their shortlist as far back as last summer. That is according to Phillips once again, who also writes that Chelsea are set to make an approach for Eze following internal discussions “this week”.

The former QPR sensation could win his first ever major trophy before potentially departing this summer after years of being linked with a move away, as Palace take on Man City in the looming FA Cup final.

Following a haul of 12 goals and 11 assists in all competitions, Eze has showcased exactly why he’s been coveted for so long, with Fulham boss Marco Silva also lavishing him as a joy to watch.

“Everyone who loves football should enjoy seeing Eze on the pitch,” said Silva. “He is a top, top young player and has so much quality with everything he does on the pitch.”

Chelsea will make contact over signing an England star, following internal talks behind-the-scenes at Stamford Bridge “this week”, with Enzo Maresca’s side mapping out their plans for the looming transfer window.

Chelsea have "big" recruitment plans this summer

As per reliable journalist Simon Phillips, BlueCo have “big” plans for the summer, and are aiming to take full advantage of the special edition early window ahead of their Club World Cup campaign.

Related Chelsea have held talks with £70m rival forward who allegedly wants to join

The west Londoners could go for him this summer.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini May 14, 2025

From June 1 to June 10, Chelsea have a limited opportunity to register and officially sign new players before the CWC kicks off, and it is believed that Maresca’s side want a couple of their top targets through the door in that timeframe.

“Chelsea have some big plans that they are working on, and a number of players that they are looking to sign,” said Phillips in a recent Substack update.

Race for Champions League qualification with 2 games remaining

Points

2. Arsenal

68

3. Newcastle United

66

4. Man City

65

5. Chelsea

63

6. Aston Villa

63

7. Nottingham Forest

62

“There will also be more significant outgoing deals done, but the decision makers at the top of the club will have a lot of work to do and some huge decisions to make.

“First of all, we’ve heard that the club want to get a couple of their new signings in the door before the competition [CWC] starts so that they can get them in and ready for preseason.”

Unfortunately for Maresca, Chelsea appear resigned to missing out on Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen, with Real Madrid steaming ahead in the race and already agreeing a deal with the Cherries to pay his £50 million release clause (Fabrizio Romano).

Chelsea were confident of signing Huijsen and reportedly ready to make him a seven-year contract offer, but the Spain starlet’s representatives are now in Madrid as they negotiate terms with Los Blancos.

This story highlights how quickly the transfer market can evolve, not to mention the magnitude of competition facing Chelsea when it comes to signing their top targets.

Chelsea set for Eberechi Eze approach after internal talks this week

Back at the drawing board, those within Chelsea are believed to hold a serious admiration for Crystal Palace star and England international Eberechi Eze.

The attacking midfielder has a £68 million release clause in his contract, and Chelsea had him on their shortlist as far back as last summer. That is according to Phillips once again, who also writes that Chelsea are set to make an approach for Eze following internal discussions “this week”.

The former QPR sensation could win his first ever major trophy before potentially departing this summer after years of being linked with a move away, as Palace take on Man City in the looming FA Cup final.

Following a haul of 12 goals and 11 assists in all competitions, Eze has showcased exactly why he’s been coveted for so long, with Fulham boss Marco Silva also lavishing him as a joy to watch.

“Everyone who loves football should enjoy seeing Eze on the pitch,” said Silva. “He is a top, top young player and has so much quality with everything he does on the pitch.”

Looking to continue their transfer strategy of welcoming future stars, Chelsea are now reportedly preparing an offer worth £17m to sign a young South American full-back ahead of the summer.

Chelsea aiming to spoil Liverpool's title party

Level on points with sixth-place Nottingham Forest, Chelsea are playing host to the Premier League champions at the worst possible time. The Reds will enter Stamford Bridge with the pressure eased, celebrations continuing and fresh from the first of four guard of honours. For Chelsea, meanwhile, this is simply a must-win game.

Manager Enzo Maresca is well aware of the importance of victory this Sunday too, having told reporters in his pre-match press conference: “The mood is good and I’ve said for a few weeks now that it’s a matter of how we manage emotions until the end [of the season].

“When we win games, we are happy and when we don’t win, we’re not happy. But it’ll be a race until the end and we need to manage the emotions. In this moment, the main thing is to watch ourselves and be focused on ourselves. This is the main point. For sure, there are more clubs involved [in the top-five race] but for us, it’s important to stay focused on ourselves.”

Approach made: Chelsea now ready to splash out £60m to sign "amazing" star

He almost joined Arsenal in January…

By
Tom Cunningham

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With games against Newcastle United, Manchester United and most importantly, Nottingham Forest on the final day awaiting Chelsea, it is set to be a frantic few weeks for the Blues. Maresca has arguably been handed the toughest games of his tenure at the most crucial stage of the campaign.

On the pitch, securing Champions League football would signal quite the sigh of relief. Away from the action, meanwhile, it would allow those at Stamford Bridge to get to work in the summer transfer window.

Chelsea preparing £17m Wesley offer

According to Caught Offside, Chelsea are now preparing an offer worth €20m (£17m) to sign Wesley from Flamengo, with talks over a deal set to intensify at the Club World Cup – a competition both sides will be competing in this summer.

As things stand, those negotiations will need to reach a breakthrough regarding the defender’s price-tag, given that Flamengo are reportedly holding out for €35m (£35m), rather than the £17m offer that Chelsea are seemingly preparing.

It should come as no surprise to see Chelsea interested in signing Wesley, given how often they’ve set their sights on South American talent throughout BlueCo’s ownership.

The Blues have already sealed the talented Estevao Willian and could now sign Wesley to go alongside the midfielder. Described as “pacy” by South American football expert Nathan Joyes, the right-back is certainly one to keep an eye on.

Manchester United are now working to seal a deal for a £60m+ star “very soon”, with the “incredible” forward “keen” on a move to Old Trafford, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Man Utd stepping up summer transfer plans

Although Rasmus Hojlund bagged a late equaliser, the recent 1-1 draw against AFC Bournemouth once again underlined the need for Ruben Amorim to strengthen his squad considerably this summer, with Daniel Sturridge dubbing the current Man United team the “worst” since he was born.

As we edge closer to the summer window, it is becoming clear Amorim wants to bring in a number of new forwards this summer, with Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta among the targets at striker, alongside the likes of Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres and Atalanta’s Mateo Retegui.

There have also been widespread suggestions that the Red Devils are progressing towards agreeing a deal for Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Matheus Cunha, having reportedly submitted a five-year contract offer in recent days.

Romano has now taken to X to drop an update on Man United’s pursuit of Cunha, stating they are “working” to seal the deal “very soon”, with negotiations now underway over the final details of the contract.

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The Wolves star is “keen” on a move to Old Trafford this summer, but he is unlikely to come cheap, given that he is protected by a £62.5m release clause in his contract.

Reports from elsewhere have stated the Brazilian is set to be brought in to play as a number 10, which means United are still tasked with signing a new striker, and there is no shortage of potential targets.

Player

Current club

Potential cost

Jean-Philippe Mateta

Crystal Palace

£40m

Viktor Gyokeres

Sporting CP

£64m

Mateo Retegui

Atalanta

£50m

Liam Delap

Ipswich Town

£30m

Victor Osimhen

Napoli

£62m

"Incredible" Cunha could help transform Man Utd's attack

United have been particularly poor from an attacking point of view this season, having scored just 39 goals in 34 Premier League games, which suggests they may need to make a number of additions to their frontline this summer.

Joshua Zirkzee and Hojlund have struggled to adapt to life in England, but Cunha has proven himself in the Premier League, playing a major role in steering Wolves clear of relegation trouble by picking up a total of 15 goals and six assists.

The Wolves star has been impressing in the Premier League for quite some time, having previously been lauded as “incredible” by reporter Jacob Steinberg after scoring a hat-trick against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last season.

There are some doubts over the signing of Cunha, with suitors said to be put off by his disciplinary record, but Paul Scholes believes he has the “attributes” to fit into Amorim’s style of play, and there are plenty of indications that he could be a success at Old Trafford.

Liverpool lifted the Premier League trophy on Sunday afternoon, celebrating Arne Slot’s triumph in front of so many legends, so many fans.

It was a day charged with emotion, an outpouring of joy and, for those such as Trent Alexander-Arnold, ruefulness, for he parted ways with his boyhood club ahead of joining Real Madrid on a free transfer next month.

It’s a big blow going forward: Alexander-Arnold is Anfield’s vice-captain and the club’s beating creative heart besides. However, don’t expect the newly-crowned champions to rest on their laurels.

Slot’s surpassing season has put Liverpool back on their perch, and FSG don’t want to stop there. Indeed, swift and incisive moves are being made to do it all again next season, making a through line into the fresh campaign.

Liverpool plan to make a series of exciting changes, but it’s hard to imagine any deal would top the move for Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz.

The latest on Florian Wirtz to Liverpool

Liverpool made their first official bid for Wirtz on Monday morning, offering Leverkusen a package in excess of €100m (£85m), including add-ons.

This suggests previous claims that the Germany international would cost FSG something in the ballpark of €150m (£126m) were wayward, and indeed music to the ears of those of a Liverpool persuasion.

There are a number of ways the Reds can line up with Wirtz in the squad, and that’s without even entertaining the possible acquisition of a new centre-forward.

Where Wirtz could feature for Liverpool

We haven’t reached the finish line with this transfer ‘saga’, but we’re getting close. It would take a drastic and deflating turn of events for 22-year-old Wirtz to begin the 2025/26 campaign in a shirt other than Liverpool’s.

The rapidity with which FSG are taking care of business testifies to the enviable manner in which Liverpool get things done. There’s a reason Anfield has stood near the top of the European pile for a decade, after all.

Remarkably, the bid for Wirtz hasn’t detracted from other ventures. Jeremie Frimpong has reportedly completed his medical, should be announced this week. And moreover, Liverpool are closing in on yet another signing.

Liverpool agree terms with top target

Liverpool are making headway in their bid to sign Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez. At the weekend, Fabrizio Romano revealed the Reds have the lead over Manchester City in the race, and indeed are in active discussions to bring the 21-year-old over to Anfield.

Now, the reputable journalist has confirmed to GIVEMESPORT that Liverpool have agreed personal terms with the sought-after left-back, with just “some small details to be clarified.”

It’s understood the Cherries want £45m for their prized prospect, though FSG would certainly hope to whittle this down and structure the outlay into smaller chunks.

Why Liverpool want Milos Kerkez

Andy Robertson’s performance against Palace on Sunday could be used as a gauge to examine the pressing need for a new left-back.

It was wonderful to see the 31-year-old receive his second Premier League title, but he’s past his best, Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher hailing him an “absolute legend” but noting he’s “hanging on in every game.”

Given Kostas Tsimikas has struggled to displace the veteran, forever his deputy, it’s understandable FSG should be pulling out all the stops in their bid to sign Kerkez, who has fallen in love with the prospect of Anfield after his immense breakout campaign.

The Hungarian, Dominik Szoboszlai’s international teammate, started all 38 of Bournemouth’s Premier League fixtures last season, scoring two goals, providing five assists and notably winning 60% of his ground duels, as per Sofascore.

The left-back will dynamise the left flank, raise the level through enhanced energy levels and attacking output. Moreover, his defensive game is at a superior level. With Wirtz arriving on the scene too, this bodes well for Slot’s second season.

Left-back Alex Grimaldo has been an incredible asset for the Werkself in recent years, bringing energy and enthusiasm to the role and covering large stretches of ground to provide a platform for those such as Wirtz, who is technically a ten but his influence is such that he defies positional definition, often drifting over to the left.

The Leverkusen star might be one of the elite playmakers of his generation, but he can’t do it all alone, especially if his left-back fails to drive play into his zone.

Luckily, Liverpool’s potential new defensive signing has the full package and could complement Wirtz’s silky, stylish attacking arsenal, having been described by pundit Izzy Christensen as a “machine” of a player.

Kerkez has a long way to go before he can call himself a playmaking asset on the level of Alexander-Arnold and Robertson, but with Trent gone and the Scottish star no longer at his best, it’s crucial Kerkez steps in to supply the likes of Wirtz with the support he will need to flourish.

1

Trent Alexander-Arnold

64

2

Andy Robertson

60

3

Leighton Baines

53

4

Graeme Le Saux

44

5

Kieran Trippier

38

However, given his youth and impressive start to life in the Premier League, there’s every chance Kerkez can now go from strength to strength and make a significant impression for Slot’s Liverpool.

Across the past two seasons, Wirtz has posted 69 goal contributions across all competitions for Leverkusen, making a telling comment on the calibre of player the Reds are set to welcome.

With Kerkez in behind him, striking a devastating partnership, this could elevate the Anfield project to a level scarcely imaginable.

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