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Wayne Rooney has named a “brilliant” former England star as his toughest-ever opponent, given both his tackling ability and skill in possession of the ball.

Rooney reveals toughest-ever opponent

Very few defenders were able to get the better of Rooney on a regular basis, as evidenced by the fact the Manchester United legend is the third-highest scorer in Premier League history, with a whopping 208 goals to his name.

The Liverpool-born forward spent the majority of his career at Old Trafford, where he enjoyed a great deal of success, playing a part in the Red Devils winning five Premier League titles, four EFL Cups, one FA Cup and one Champions League.

During the Sir Alex Ferguson era, United were extremely dominant, but they did go three seasons without winning the title in the early noughties, given the emergence of Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea, who finished top back-to-back in 2004-05 and 2005-06.

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The likes of Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and Petr Cech all cemented themselves as Blues legends in the process, but it is their former captain who was named as Rooney’s toughest-ever opponent when speaking on The Overlap. The 39-year-old said:

“I’ve always said John Terry was one of the toughest defenders to play against. On the ball he was very good – he was brilliant, and he could tackle. I also used to like playing against big centre-backs because I wanted a challenge and wanted that body contact – I could spin them all and come off them, then take them on. John Terry was the toughest though.”

Terry was part of the greatest-ever Premier League defence

It should come as no surprise that Rooney regards Terry as his most difficult opponent, given everything the former England star achieved at Chelsea, most notably playing a key role in the west Londoners setting the record for fewest goals conceded in a Premier League season.

During the 2004-05 campaign, Mourinho’s side shipped just 15 goals across the entire season, with the 78-time England international missing just two games, and he has since gone on to lavish the Portuguese manager with praise.

Not only was the ex-Chelsea captain a rock at the back, but he is also the highest-scoring defender in Premier League history, scoring 41 goals in 492 appearances.

With Levi Colwill set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to an ACL injury, Chelsea are in need of a new centre-back, but it will be extremely difficult to find one capable of coming close to replicating the impact Terry had at Stamford Bridge.

Trinity Rodman has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 MCL sprain, having seemingly avoided a more serious injury after being helped off the field in tears during Wednesday's 4-0 win over Monterrey in the CONCACAF W Champions Cup. There has been no timetable set for her return, but Rodman is expected to miss the U.S. women's national team's upcoming friendlies.

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  An untimely injury

  Rodman's injury came just hours after she was named to the USWNT's latest squad. The Spirit winger has not been with the national team since April due to a long-term back injury.

  Rodman was seen in tears as she was helped off the field during Wednesday's match, with the winger seemingly unable to put pressure on her right leg. Later in the evening, she was seen on crutches while wearing a brace on her knee. Many were left fearing the worst, but Spirit boss Adrian Gonzalez provided something of a positive update, even if it now seems that Rodman could end up missing at least part of the NWSL playoffs.

  "She's at the facility today starting the rehab; she's doing good," Gonzalez said. "The results that we got are the best scenario. Obviously, an injury is not always a good situation. It's not as bad as it could be. She's starting now the rehab.

  "She has an MCL sprain. It's not too big, too much, but we need to see how she's doing every day, start the rehab today, and try to support her in this situation."

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  The situation

  Speaking to reporters on Friday, Gonzalez offered some insight into Rodman's injury, but was unable to provide an exact timetable for her recovery.

  "All players are different," Gonzalez said. "We are taking care of every player as an individual in terms of how we prepare [for] the weeks, the games, and trying to individualize as much as possible the loads. Obviously, every player has a different background, and we always are taking care of those details.

  "Right now, we need to focus on day by day, try to help her to recover, to heal as best as possible, and let's see how she's progressing every day."

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Tough break for USWNT

  The injury will be bad news for Emma Hayes and the USWNT, who were looking forward to welcoming Rodman back into the fold after several months away from the team. Rodman had missed time with the Spirit from April to August battling a recurring back injury, but the winger had been back to her best since returning a few weeks back and now has seven goal contributions in under 1,000 minutes of gametime.

  "I know she's excited to come back in and play for a national team, but she's doing it in a place where I think she's had to build a lot of foundational work around her back," Hayes said on Wednesday, hours before Rodman suffered her injury. "She's one of the best players in the world, and we've had to play without her for more than a year. So I'm, of course, super excited that she's back in – but most importantly that she's here with us in a healthy place."

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  Championship rematch ahead…

  The Spirit are set to be the No. 2 seed in the upcoming NWSL playoffs, which are set to kick off in three weeks time. Last season, the club made it all the way to the NWSL Championship game before falling to the Orlando Pride in the season finale.

  The Spirit are set to face last season's Champions in a final rematch on Saturday before concluding the season on Nov. 2 with a visit to the Utah Royals.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have agreed terms with a new “number 10” who could become Matheus Cunha’s replacement at Molineux.

Wolves aiming to replace Cunha after Man Utd transfer

The Old Gold are in need of a summer rebuild following a disappointing 24/25 Premier League season coupled with the fact they have already lost two of their star players in the transfer market.

The first to leave was Cunha, with Manchester United triggering the Brazilian’s £62.5m release clause in the opening days of the window.

Then, just before the first transfer window was set to shut, Manchester City announced a deal for Rayan Ait-Nouri, with the left-back being named in Pep Guardiola’s squad for the Club World Cup.

As a result, Vitor Pereira should have some money to spend, and they have been linked with numerous players in June. In attack, Wolves are thought to be showing an interest in FC St Gallen striker Willem Geubbels, who is valued at just £8.5m.

Meanwhile, when it comes to full-back signings, Wolves are keen on Vladimir Coufal, who has left West Ham United after five seasons and is available on a free transfer.

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Pereira will be hoping the club can get some players through the door before the end of the month ahead of pre-season in July, and it looks as if Wolves have made a breakthrough in regards to an attacking addition.

Wolves agree terms with Celta Vigo’s Fer Lopez

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Wolves have agreed terms with Celta Vigo attacker Fer Lopez. A long-term deal has been agreed between the Old Gold and Lopez, and Wolves now just need to shake hands on a fee with Celta Vigo.

Interestingly, Lopez, who shares the same Gestifute agency as Jose Sa and other Wolves players, was spotted away on holiday with Wolves striker Jorgen Strand-Larsen, with the pair knowing each other from their time with the La Liga side.

Should Lopez join Larsen in the Midlands, Wolves would be getting a versatile left footed attacker. Capable of playing on the wing or as an attacking midfielder, ESPN editor David Cartlidge even described Lopez as a “unicorn”.

After coming through the Celta Vigo academy, Lopez, still just 21 years of age, has only made 20 senior appearances for his current employers, scoring four goals. However, a move to England with Wolves looks like it could be on the cards following the breakthrough on personal terms.

Liverpool’s defence played a huge role in their ability to claim the Premier League title this season, offering Arne Slot a strong foundation to build his side off.

The Reds conceded just 41 times in their 38 outings, with only runners-up Arsenal conceding fewer goals, with their impressive tally of 34, highlighting how impressive Slot’s backline were in 2024/25.

They also kept 14 clean sheets – the most of any side in the division – with the ability to keep the ball out of the net playing a massive role in their success within England’s top flight.

Such a department has been boosted massively over the past few months, after club captain Virgil van Dijk signed a new two-year deal at Anfield, extending his stint on Merseyside to just under a decade.

Despite the Dutchman signing a new deal, the hierarchy have wasted no time in targeting other players in such an area to help the side in their quest to retain their title.

The latest on Liverpool’s hunt for new defenders this summer

With Jeremie Frimpong already agreeing a move to join Liverpool this summer, the club have wasted no time in landing a replacement for the outgoing Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Milos Kerkez is another name who looks set to make the switch to Merseyside this summer, with the Hungarian in advanced talks over a switch to Anfield – potentially costing a fee in the region of £45m.

The pair could be joined by another defensive reinforcement, in the form of Rennes centre-back Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal, according to Moroccan outlet Le360 Sport.

They claim that the Reds have already made a concrete offer to sign the 19-year-old, who spent the 2024/25 season on loan at Ligue 2 outfit Amiens.

It also states that Newcastle are also interested in the teenage star, with Slot’s men the only side to present a bid for his signature, but doesn’t reveal how much the proposal is for the youngster.

Why Liverpool’s latest target would be Slot’s own Huijsen

Over the last couple of months, Liverpool have been keeping a close eye on the progress of Spanish centre-back Dean Huijsen after his impressive stint at Bournemouth this season.

The 20-year-old featured in 32 league games for the Cherries in the Premier League, scoring on three occasions, even winning their Player of the Year award.

Such form led to the Reds’ hierarchy meeting with the defender’s representatives a couple of weeks ago, but he rejected a stay in England to return to Spain in favour of a £50m move to Real Madrid.

Undoubtedly, his decision to move to the LaLiga outfit has been a blow for Slot’s side, but they could land their own version of Huijsen this summer, in the form of current target Ait Boudlal.

The Moroccan could follow suit of the Spaniard, who achieved his move to the Premier League after spending a stint on loan at Roma from Juventus, plying his trade for another team in Italy before getting his chance to shine.

The Rennes ace has done the same this campaign in France, moving to Amiens and gaining valuable minutes to aid his progression at the top end of the professional game.

Should he move to Liverpool this summer, Ait Boudlal would have the potential to emulate Huijsen’s levels in the Premier League, offering needed depth to Slot at the heart of the defence.

His stats this season highlight the talent he possesses, having the ability to improve massively under his guidance in the years ahead, especially considering his tender age.

Ait Boudlal, who’s been labelled “complete” by talent scout Antonio Mango, has already been a regular at multiple levels of the internal setup within his country – having a huge part to play in their future success at competitions such as AFCON.

It would certainly be a signing for the future, but the signs are there for the teenager to follow suit of Huijsen and make a sensational switch to England from Rennes this summer.

It’s unclear how much a deal would set the hierarchy back in the coming months, but if he manages to get anywhere close to the levels produced by the Spaniard, it would be a bargain and one that could hand the club a huge talent in their quest for title glory.

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Aston Villa have booked a medical for a transfer target after agreeing terms over a four-year deal at Villa Park, and he could be the club’s next Jhon Duran.

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It looked as if the 2024/25 season would be Duran’s big breakthrough campaign under Unai Emery, especially after he scored a famous winner against Bayern Munich in the Champions League league phase.

However, despite being a regular in the first half of the season, Duran was sold by Villa to Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr in the January transfer window. Talking after moving to Saudi Arabia, Duran said: “I’m really happy about the move. People in general and the media speculate about a lot of things. I think of only my family, my agent and me. I know why we make the decisions that we make. My family are especially important in these decisions. I don’t think it’s a backwards step for me. I’m moving to a competitive league and there are many stars here.”

Villa could go on to receive more than £70m after only signing Duran for £18m from Chicago Fire in January 2023, and the Colombia international has gone on to score on a regular basis for his new employers. In 18 appearances for Al-Nassr, Duran has scored 12 goals, partnering Cristiano Ronaldo in attack.

Villa are now on the search for their next attacking gem, and they feel they may have found it in likely first summer signing Zepiqueno Redmond following talks last month.

Aston Villa book medical to sign Zepiqueno Redmond

According to Football Insider and reporter Pete O’Rourke, Aston Villa have planned for Feyenoord forward Redmond to have his Midlands medical early next week.

The teenager has agreed a four-year deal with Villa and a move will be made official when his Feyenoord contract expires at the end of June.

Aged just 18, Redmond can play on either wing or as an attacking midfielder alongside his centre-forward role, and according to O’Rourke, ‘Emery and Monchi believe the Netherlands youth international can become as successful as Duran, the last teenage striker they signed.’

It is a big claim, and if Redmond can have the success Duran did in the Midlands, then Aston Villa will definitely be onto a winner and could go on to make big money further down the line.

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Fabrizio Romano has called Redmond “a talent” and “a striker with important potential”, with clubs in Italy also keen on the forward before Villa made their move.

The youngster will arrive at Villa after scoring two senior goals for Feyenoord in just nine appearances, so we may see him in Emery’s match day squads from the off in 25/26.

A new centre-forward could be on the cards for Celtic as they prepare for the upcoming summer transfer window, which officially opens for business next month.

The Scottish giants decided to cash in on one of their star forwards in the January transfer window when they allowed Kyogo Furuhashi to join Rennes on a permanent deal.

The Japan international, who scored 34 goals in all competitions in the 2022/23 campaign, moved on from Parkhead and the club did not opt to sign a direct replacement for him ahead of the second half of the season.

Celtic could land a domestic treble by beating Aberdeen in the SFA Cup final, which suggests that their form on the pitch has not been harmed by that decision.

However, Brendan Rodgers and his staff may want a longer-term solution to Kyogo’s exit when the summer transfer window opens for business, as Adam Idah is the only senior and recognised centre-forward at the club, alongside the versatile Daizen Maeda and young Johnny Kenny.

There is one former Celtic number nine who has recently made it clear that he would love to play for the Hoops again if the opportunity was there.

Former Celtic striker who would love to return to Parkhead

Greece international Giorgos Giakoumakis has revealed that he would be interested in playing in the green and white again, having left the club in 2023 to sign for Atlanta United in the MLS.

When asked if he would fit into the current team, the forward told the Daily Record: “You want to set the fire? I would love to play for Celtic again. I don’t know if that’s a utopia or if it could happen again – but who wouldn’t?”

There is nothing to suggest that Celtic are considering, or even would consider, a move to bring the striker back to Glasgow, but he did enjoy an interesting first spell at Paradise after joining from VVV-Venlo in the summer of 2021.

Giakoumakis was never a nailed-on starter who was in the XI week-in-week-out under Ange Postecoglou, as he preferred Kyogo Furuhashi in closer to a false nine role, but he performed admirably when given an opportunity.

As you can see in the table above, the Greek star almost averaged a goal every 90 minutes in the Premiership across his two seasons at the club, which speaks to how lethal he was in the final third when on the pitch.

Whilst Celtic may not be interested in a reunion with the experienced attacker, Rodgers could land his own version of Giakoumakis by swooping for one of the club’s reported transfer targets.

Celtic have interest in Scottish starlet

Last month, the Chronicle Live reported that Celtic are one of a number of clubs interested in signing Hearts centre-forward James Wilson in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The outlet claimed that Rangers and Celtic have both checked the teenage forward out, which suggests that they have sent scouts to watch the gem in action, whilst he has also played against both teams in the Premiership.

Transfer Focus

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It revealed that Premier League side Newcastle United, who are currently vying for Champions League football, are also keen on the Scotland international.

However, the Chronicle Live did not reveal how much Hearts would actually demand for the young centre-forward if a team decided to come in with a formal approach for his services.

Whilst it remains to be seen whether or not Celtic are prepared to act upon their interest in Wilson, or if they would be able to convince him to turn down Newcastle to remain in Scotland, Rodgers must push for the club to seal a deal for the attacker because he could be Giakoumakis 2.0.

Why James Wilson could be Giakoumakis 2.0

Wilson could arrive at Parkhead as the manager’s own version of the Greek sensation because he is a clinical striker who can deliver goals without starting games on a regular basis.

Giakoumakis, as aforementioned, was excellent at scoring goals consistently without being a regular starter throughout his time in the Premiership, which made him such a valuable option for Postecoglou.

Rodgers already has Maeda and Idah available to him as starting-calibre centre-forward options, and Wilson could come in as the perfect squad option to be the third-choice striker.

At the age of 18, the Scottish youngster would come in as a promising talent with plenty of time left ahead of him to develop and grow, which is why starting out as an option off the bench could be the ideal role for him at this moment in his career.

The Hearts gem, dubbed a “live wire” in training by Neil Critchley, has also shown that he can be an effective player when called upon at Premiership level, having scored five goals from 4.9 xG in the division this season.

As you can see in the table above, Wilson has an impressive conversion rate of 23% in the Premiership, just shy of Giakoumakis’ 24% conversion rate in the league during his time at Celtic.

This shows that both strikers are clinical and effective forwards who can thrive without starting every single game, making them perfect squad options for the Hoops.

Aged 17 years and 288 days, Wilson became the youngest European scorer in Hearts history with a goal against Petroclub in the Conference League, and he became the youngest senior Scotland international ever at the age of 18 years and 17 days old with a cap against Greece earlier this year.

The record-breaking youngster is emerging as a hugely promising player in Scottish football, hence the links to Newcastle and Celtic, and that is why the Hoops should push to bring him to the club as their next Giakoumakis, with the potential for him to kick on even further in the future.

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A Sky Sports reporter has now revealed that Leeds United want to sign a “thriving” Everton star this summer.

One defender in and one out at Leeds?

The Championship title winners are wasting no time in beginning preparations for their return to the Premier League, as the Whites have already been linked with high-profile players who they believe will give them a good chance of remaining in the top flight.

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Leeds have been looking mostly at ways of improving their attack, but given recent developments, there could be a few changes in their defence. It was reported on Wednesday that the Whites are preparing to make a £6 million bid to sign Georgios Vagiannidis from Greek side Panathinaikos.

Officials from the Yorkshire side are set to fly out to Greece and watch him in action this weekend, and they are already planning to make an offer, as they try to beat Everton to his signature.

As Vagiannidis emerges as a target for Leeds, it’s becoming increasingly likely that current left-back Junior Firpo is set to leave Elland Road. The defender is out of contract in the summer, and according to a new report, Crystal Palace have now held talks with Firpo’s agent over a move to Selhurst Park.

Palace are not the only team interested from the Premier League or in Europe, as plenty of teams express interest in a transfer.

Leeds want to sign £20m+ Everton star Beto this summer

And it seems signing a new forward is a high priority for Daniel Farke this summer, with Sky Sports’ Rob Dorsett revealing Leeds are interested in signing Beto from Everton.

Dorsett claims he’s “told” that Leeds have a £100 million transfer kitty as they prepare for life back in the Premier League. He goes on to add that he is unclear if Everton would be willing to sell Beto, as he’s been an important player for the Toffees since David Moyes’ return.

In fact, since the arrival of Moyes, The Athletic’s Paddy Boyland has described Beto as a player who is “thriving” under new management. The 27-year-old was brought to the club in August 2023 but struggled to make a significant impact last season under Sean Dyche, as he scored just three Premier League goals in 30 games. However, that has changed in this campaign, as he’s scored seven times in 27 games, making him Everton’s top goalscorer.

It’s unclear how much the Portuguese could cost Leeds, but the Toffees paid £25 million for him to join from Udinese, and the Premier League side may look to get at least an equal return on their investment. The forward is under contract until 2027, but he is not their only striker target, as Leeds have been linked to the likes of Jamie Vardy and Troy Parrott.

Liverpool clinched their 20th Premier League title on Sunday, thrashing Tottenham Hotspur to bestow upon Anfield the hometown celebrations they have craved for 35 years.

The wider squad came together in a huddle of pure joy as they danced across the pitch and celebrated in front of the wide-beaming supporters. However, one or two may have felt the niggling concern that this is their final trophy in a Liverpool shirt.

Diogo Jota, for example, sadly doesn’t look to have the same snap and athleticism he once had, the 28-year-old only scoring one goal across 15 appearances since recovering from muscular issues in January.

But Darwin Nunez is the player widely expected to be leaving this summer, having fallen by the wayside after his club-record £85m move from Benfica in 2022, with Fabrizio Romano confirming the news on several occasions.

The club need a new star at number nine, but who that might be is as yet indeterminable.

One thing’s for sure, Liverpool miss Bobby Firmino in his pomp.

Why Liverpool miss Bobby Firmino

It was perhaps summed up best when Nunez was played through on goal and had the chance to add a sixth as Liverpool laid siege on Spurs’ flimsy defences and claimed the Premier League title.

The Uruguayan, drained of confidence after three testing years on Merseyside, opted against striking on goal himself, sealing some form of poetic justice in capping off the title-winning result, and instead played a pass across goal to the onrushing Salah.

Firmino would have played the pass with weighted perfection. Or, perhaps, he would have recognised that striking on goal himself was by far the best option, and done just that.

Nunez, sadly, lacks in temperament what he boasts in tenacity and toughness, and after Jurgen Klopp and now Arne Slot have failed to crack the nut, Firmino’s replacement is set to leave, with a new version of the silky Brazilian targeted once again.

While Firmino’s unique take on the striker’s game is not something readily replicable, FSG are looking to sign a player with a noteworthy technical quality, actually gearing up to hijack another club’s deal.

Liverpool ready to hijack deal for new centre forward

As per TEAMtalk, Liverpool are gearing up to land a hijack on Inter Milan this summer, with the Serie A title contenders pushing to sign Jonathan David when his contract at LOSC Lille expires this summer.

Inter presented their offer to David’s camp in March and are confident that they are getting closer toward an agreement, though the temptation of Saudi Arabian riches is there and Arsenal and West Ham United want to add him to their ranks too.

While opting for a free transfer might feel somewhat deflating, David is a clinical striker with a ball-playing game that most strikers don’t boast. In that way, he could prove to be a Firmino-esque presence at number nine once again, albeit with a wildly different take.

Why Jonathan David would be perfect for Liverpool

David is a talented goalscorer, sure, but he’s also known to have a crisp and intelligent passing game. It’s one which could see him grow into a role as Slot’s very own version of Firmino, with Nunez having failed in his season-long audition for that role.

The 33-year-old didn’t score every game, but he was so important in engineering a sense of unmatched fluency, centred between Salah and Sadio Mane.

In David, Liverpool might find their best striker since the attacking maestro, one whose goalscoring skills are actually above those of both Firmino and Nunez. Indeed, since the Canadian star left Gent and signed for Lille back in 2020, he’s scored 109 goals and supplied 29 assists across 229 outings.

Still only 25, David has demonstrated incremental growth across his five campaigns in France, with his last three campaigns establishing him as a top-class goalscorer with creative qualities to applaud.

This newfound creativity is a product of his much-improved ball game. As per FBref, David actually ranks among the top 1% of centre-forwards across Europe over the past year for pass completion, with an average success rate of 83.4%.

Firmino had plenty of tricks and flicks, but David doesn’t embroider his football with such fleet feet. He’s more economical, but that suits Slot.

The Dutch tactician is sure to be looking for a striker with a proven track record in front of goal while adding a bit flair and, most importantly, coherence to the attacking ranks.

Nunez, for example, has completed just 68% of his passes over the past year, putting him among the bottom 35% of strikers for that metric.

When Canadian football expert Tony Marinaro described David as “one of the best strikers in the world” back in 2022, many undoubtedly scoffed at such a high-held opinion.

Transfer Focus

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

But consistency is the key. Just ask Nunez, for his big Liverpool move has been derailed by a distinct lack of the stuff.

David has all the ingredients to become a success for the Anfield side. He’s scored ten goals in the Champions League already (including against Liverpool this season), having played just 18 matches.

The Canada international is athletic, powerful and pacy with a crispness in possession that Firmino would be proud of.

Oh, he’s not cut from the same cloth as Liverpool’s dazzler, but then no one is. But David has a style of play, and it’s an approach which really could work a treat for Slot’s title-winning side.

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Liverpool have confirmed a new contract for Virgil van Dijk, fending off interest from the likes of Bayern Munich to keep the captain on Merseyside for two more years.

Liverpool seal new contracts for key stars

The Reds could officially win the Premier League this weekend in what has been a brilliant first campaign under Arne Slot. Should Arsenal suffer defeat against Ipswich Town on Sunday afternoon, Liverpool could seal the title with a win at Leicester City shortly after.

However, away from the pitch, a hot topic of conversation has been on the futures of star trio Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Van Dijk. Salah, as we know, has officially signed a new two-year contract at Anfield, whereas Alexander-Arnold looks set to join Spanish giants Real Madrid.

Meanwhile, Fabrizio Romano had recently said that Van Dijk is set to join Salah in signing a new Liverpool contract through until 2027, and talking recently, the skipper was asked about his pending new deal: “I think first, all the focus should be going to the Hillsborough anniversary. I think that’s the main thing and then we’ll see. The focus will still be on Leicester, but maybe there’s some news. I know … but I don’t know.

“I love the club, that’s pretty obvious. I think you can see that in the way I speak about the club, the way I work for the club in terms of what I do on the pitch on and off the pitch, and that will always be the same.”

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He’s enjoyed an excellent season…

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Van Dijk signs new Liverpool deal worth over £40m

Bayern Munich were keen to sign Van Dijk on a free transfer, seeing the centre-back as a ‘unique opportunity to strengthen its defence with experience, leadership and proven quality’, but it has now been confirmed by Liverpool that Van Dijk has signed a new contract at Anfield.

Rumoured to be on £220,000-a-week beforehand, Van Dijk has become a Liverpool legend since joining from Southampton back in 2017, winning numerous trophies, and David Ornstein reports the new two-year deal is now worth £400,000-a-week.

Ornstein confirms there are no pay cut or break clauses, which will guarantee the Netherlands star is paid £41,600,000 through to the summer of 2027, by which time he’ll be 35. This is even more than the fee Liverpool paid to Brighton for star midfielder Alexis Mac Allister (£35m), but Reds fans will feel their captain deserves every penny.

Talking after penning terms, Van Dijk said: “I’m very happy, very proud. There are so many emotions obviously that go through my head right now speaking about it. “It’s a proud feeling, it’s a feeling of joy. It’s just incredible. The journey I’ve had so far in my career, to be able to extend it with another two years at this club is amazing and I’m so happy.”

Van Dijk is now the highest paid defender in the top flight and will be the second-highest paid player in any position once Kevin De Bruyne departs Man City this summer, behind only Erling Haaland who sits on £500,000-a-week at the Etihad.

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ stunning 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the Premier League was the first time they have done the double over the Red Devils since the 1970s.

It was a win that proves how good this Wolves squad is, and next season they should be aiming for a top-half finish without a shadow of a doubt.

Vitor Pereira has worked miracles at Molineux since taking over towards the end of 2024, and if he is backed in the summer transfer window, he can take the club to the next level.

One burning question is, will Matheus Cunha be in the starting XI for the first Premier League fixture of the 2025/26 season?

Matheus Cunha’s future at Wolves is uncertain

The Brazilian may have enjoyed a wonderful season on the pitch, scoring 16 goals and grabbing four assists, but his behaviour in recent months suggests he could be sold this summer.

Cunha has clashed with supporters on social media following a post he put up on his Instagram. He even confessed that he wishes to leave in order to challenge for trophies, and if a big offer comes in, the forward may depart.

The former Atlético Madrid star only signed a new contract back in February, tying him down for another four years. A £62.5m release clause has been inserted into the deal, so whoever wants to sign him this summer will need to stump up the cash.

While losing him would be a big blow, the club sold a player in the summer of 2022 who is now worth £40m more than the Brazilian and is also starring in the Premier League.

Wolves must regret selling £100m-rated star

While Cunha has been stealing the limelight in Wolverhampton, a player not so far away in Nottingham has also very swiftly become one of the leading Premier League players; Morgan Gibbs-White.

Selling the playmaker for a fee in the region of £42.5m was seen as excellent business by the Old Gold initially. Indeed, he’d registered a total of just three goals and one assist in 88 matches for the club was hardly an impressive return, but the move has backfired spectacularly.

Since moving to Nottingham Forest, the Englishman has racked up 111 appearances for the club, registering 43 goal contributions – 16 goals and 27 assists – in the process.

It is no wonder he has been dubbed “sensational” by certain sections of the media for his displays and according to journalist Graeme Bailey, the attacking midfielder is now being valued at around £100m by Forest amid interest from Manchester City.

This is nearly £40m more than Cunha, and the statistics back up his high valuation. In the top flight this term, he has created eight big chances, averaged 1.6 key passes and succeeded with one dribble per game.

Furthermore, he ranks in the top 11% for goal-creating actions (0.63) and in the top 5% for passes into the final third (4.33) per 90 when compared to his positional peers this season in the top flight.

Wolves perhaps made the correct decision at the time by selling the 25-year-old, but boy, must they be rueing that decision now.

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By
Ross Kilvington

Apr 19, 2025