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Former Aston Villa defender Alan Hutton has made an ‘incredible’ claim regarding Rangers defender Calvin Bassey, Football Insider report.

The Lowdown: Villa closing in?

Steven Gerrard and NSWE have been hard at work in the transfer market over the last seven days, putting a number of deals in place ahead of the summer window.

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Villa have secured permanent deals for Philippe Coutinho and Boubacar Kamara and have also reached an agreement for centre-back Diego Carlos.

Another defender could be on the way, with The Times suggesting that Villa are also closing in on a move for Rangers star Bassey.

The Latest: Hutton’s comments

Hutton, who contributes for Sky Sports, was talking to FI about Bassey and Villa. He labelled a Villa swoop is a ‘no-brainer’ and waxed lyrical regarding the defender, describing him as ‘outstanding’ in the Europa League final and backed him to be an ‘incredible player’.

“He was outstanding in the Europa League final, and he carried that on in the Scottish Cup too.

“He’s growing in stature game-on-game. It doesn’t matter where he plays, centre-back or left-back – he gives you an unbelievable presence.

“He’s got such versatility – and that’s an attribute Villa will value so highly. For him to be putting in these kinds of performances at his age, and showing his capability at the highest level – it’s a no-brainer for someone like Villa to come in.

“If he can maintain that level and that consistency week-in, week-out – then wow, he could be an incredible player.”

The Verdict: Get it done

Bassey enjoyed a phenomenal season at Ibrox, making 49 appearances in all competitions. He turned out at centre-back and left-back, picking up the club’s Young Player of the Season award.

The Nigerian impressed many when it mattered most in cup finals against Frankfurt and Hearts, so a move to Villa Park could be a shrewd one.

The 22-year-old would provide Gerrard with another option at centre-back and cover for Lucas Digne at left-back, and you’d like to think he’ll only get better over the coming years.

In other news: Blow for NSWE: Villa will now miss out on key target after talks; Gerrard was desperate for him

Liverpool are set for some changes this summer when it comes to their squad with some players out of contract and a reliable source has given an update on one transfer that will divide the opinion of supporters.

What’s the latest?

According to Liverpool reporter for The Athletic James Pearce, Divock Origi has now agreed on terms with AC Milan ahead of his contract expiry at Anfield this summer.

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Pearce wrote in an article for The Athletic that although a contract has not been signed as of yet, the Liverpool striker has come to an agreement on personal terms in a deal that will see him join the Italian club.

It comes after Origi failed to make enough appearances to trigger an extension clause on Merseyside, which means he will be free to leave this summer and now AC Milan are looking like the most likely club to secure a move for the player.

Supporters will be gutted

There is no doubt that Origi has become a cult hero at Liverpool despite being a fringe player. He has provided some of the biggest and most iconic moments during his time at the club and supporters will surely be gutted to see him leave this summer after eight years.

For the Reds, the 27-year-old has scored 41 goals and contributed 18 assists in 175 appearances, but it’s not his tally of goal contributions that has put him in the hearts of the supporters with his influence in big moments stealing the spotlight.

Origi scored one of the most iconic goals in the club’s recent history when Trent Alexander-Arnold whipped in a fast corner to land on the end of the striker’s foot against Barcelona in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final at Anfield, scoring the fourth and final goal to send Liverpool through to the final where they went onto win the entire competition.

Another reason he is so adored by the red side of Merseyside is that in the Premier League, the Belgian goal machine has scored 27.27% of his league goals against their fierce local rivals Everton, with his most recent winning goal coincidentally coming from the Merseyside Derby last month.

With that being said, it is no wonder that supporters would be gutted to see him leave the club this summer with the striker offering important goals and important moments in one of Liverpool’s most victorious periods over the last few years.

AND in other news: Klopp eyeing £150m “wonderkid” who “suits Liverpool’s style”, it may be bye-bye Salah

Transfer insider Dean Jones has given an update regarding the future of Newcastle United captain Jamaal Lascelles. 

The lowdown: Stellar servant for Newcastle

Signed from Nottingham Forest in 2014, the defender was an instant hit at Newcastle and was appointed Magpies captain two years later by then-manager Rafa Benitez.

Overall, the 28-year-old Derby-born centre-back has amassed 212 appearances for the Tyneside club across spells in the Championship and the Premier League.

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However, as a new era dawns at St James’ Park following the takeover in 2021, Lascelles is in danger of being moved on under Eddie Howe, with reports that the club would listen to offers for him.

The latest: Lascelles ‘isn’t going to fit in’

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones suggested that the former England under-21 ace may well be on the way out of Newcastle.

The journalist explained how the club could deal with their long-standing central defender, saying: “He’ll be available for transfer in the summer. The circumstances just aren’t going to suit him at this stage and Newcastle are looking to transition beyond him.

“It’s just the vision that Newcastle have right now and, from what I understand, Lascelles probably isn’t going to fit in with it.”

The verdict: Bold call

While it is apparent that Howe will look to strengthen in all departments during the upcoming transfer window, selling a mainstay such as Lascelles is a huge statement of intent from the club and the manager about the direction in which they want Newcastle to go.

The skipper was hailed as ‘absolutely superb’ by Howe for his performance against Chelsea earlier in the campaign, one of 24 appearances he has made in the league in 2021/22. According to Sofascore data, he has won 72% of his aerial duels and 63% of his overall duels in the current top-flight campaign, marking him out as an uncompromising defender.

Under contract until 2024 and holding a market value of £9.9m (Transfermarkt), Lascelles would likely fetch a reasonable fee should a move indeed be on the cards this summer.

In other news, journalist reacts to NUFC starlet’s weekend heroics

Mike McGrath has dropped an update on the future of Leeds United winger Raphinha.

What’s the talk?

In a recent post on Twitter, The Telegraph journalist revealed that, despite reports claiming that Barcelona were planning to hold off their negotiations for the 25-year-old until it became clear which league Leeds will be participating in next season, this is in fact not the case, with Xavi’s side now believed to have stepped up their interest in the Brazil international – with the LaLiga side planning on initiating transfer talks with the Whites imminently.

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In his tweet, McGrath said: “Barca have stepped up [their] bid to land Raphinha in the summer, planning on imminent talks over the deal for the LUFC [player] in the event of his club staying in Premier League or not.”

Supporters will be devastated

While the vast majority of Leeds supporters are more than likely resigned to the fact that Raphinha will be moving onto pastures new this summer – something that is evident from a recent poll ran on Football FanCast – the news that Barca are now hoping to secure a deal for the winger in the near future will nevertheless have left the Elland Road faithful devastated.

Indeed, the 25-year-old has arguably proven himself to be one of the club’s best signings over the past 20 years, with the £17m 2020 arrival having scored 16 goals and registered 12 assists over his 63 appearances for the Whites.

And, despite Leeds’ struggles this season, it has been over the winger’s 31 Premier League appearances in 2021/22 in which Raphinha has truly proven his ability at the highest level, with the £40.5m-rated forward bagging ten goals, providing three assists and creating nine big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 2.5 shots, making two key passes and completing two dribbles per game.

These returns have seen the £63k-per-week winger average a highly impressive SofaScore match rating of 6.95, ranking him as Jesse Marsch’s second-best outfielder in the top flight of English football.

As such, while Raphinha’s potential £60m exit from Elland Road would undoubtedly represent fantastic transfer business by Victor Orta, the prospect of losing a player of the Brazilian’s ability in the coming weeks will nevertheless be a devastating thought for supporters of the Whites.

AND in other news: Victor Orta could “pick up a real gem” with Leeds bid for “complete” 17 G/A sensation

Liverpool ‘really like’ rumoured transfer target Aurelien Tchouameni ahead of a potential summer move, according to journalist James Pearce.

The Lowdown: Tchouameni a primary target for LFC

The Reds will likely be looking to strengthen their midfield options next season, with several players now in their 30s and fresh blood perhaps required.

It looks as though Tchouameni is Liverpool’s primary target in that area of the pitch, with the 22-year-old looking like a player with enormous potential.

He scored twice in Monaco’s 2-1 win away to Lille on Friday night and has averaged 2.5 tackles and 2.9 interceptions per game in Ligue 1 this season. For context, no current Anfield player can match Tchouameni for either of those statistics in 2021/22.

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The Latest: Pearce makes Tchouameni claim

Speaking in a Q&A for The Athletic on Saturday, Pearce reaffirmed Liverpool’s interest in Tchouameni, although he warned that the Reds could be priced out of a move amid competition from elsewhere.

In response to a reader enquiring about the links with the Monaco gem, the journalist stated:

“Yeah Liverpool really like him. Big talent. But price tag could be an issue and Real Madrid also very keen. Be interesting to see what happens with that one.”

The Verdict: Perfect summer signing

Tchouameni really does look tailor-made to excel in this Liverpool side, possessing all the technical and physical attributes required to thrive under Jurgen Klopp, as suggested by his aforementioned performance figures.

Jordan Henderson is showing his age a little these days, while Naby Keita is still arguably a little hit-and-miss in terms of form, so finding a third regular starter alongside Fabinho and Thiago is crucial.

Tchouameni could be that man, already becoming such a force for Monaco and looking like he could take the Premier League by storm too.

In other news, one Liverpool player is likely to leave this summer. Find out who it is here.

Despite flying high in the Premier League and Champions League, it feels like Arsenal can’t catch a break this season.

Mikel Arteta’s side have played far better football than they did last year, but have been just as unlucky, if not more so, when it comes to injuries.

For example, Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Viktor Gyokeres, and Noni Madueke are just some of their stars who have been forced to sit on the sidelines, or still are.

And then, if things couldn’t get any worse, the Gunners are now going to be without Gabriel Magalhães for up to two months, although Arteta might just have a surprising replacement in mind for the Brazilian.

Arsenal's record when Gabriel does not play

It’s no secret that, thanks to his impact in both penalty areas, Gabriel has become one of Arsenal’s most important players in recent years.

In fact, it’s this ability that led Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher to suggest he could “be seen as the most influential player in the Premier League” only last month.

However, how essential is the big Brazilian to Arteta’s side? While that’s a pretty tricky question to answer, a decent way of approaching it would be to look at how the team have fared when he’s not been in the side over the last two and a bit years.

Starting with the 23/24 season, then, and across all competitions that year, the former LOSC Lille star made 50 appearances, 48 of which were starts, in which he scored four goals, provided one assist and averaged 2.16 points per game.

There were only two matches in which he didn’t appear: a draw against Fulham and a win over Sheffield United, meaning the team averaged just 2 points per game without him.

However, a two-game sample size is rather paltry, unlike last season, when he was absent for 16 games, of which the club won just eight, drew five and lost three, meaning the Gunners averaged just 1.81 points per game without the Brazilian in the team.

How did they fare when he was playing? Well, across all competitions, the Sao Paulo-born titan made 42 appearances, in which he scored five goals, provided three assists and averaged 1.98 points per game.

Games

50

2

Wins

34

1

Draws

6

1

Losses

10

0

Points per Game

2.16

2

Games

42

16

Wins

24

8

Draws

11

5

Losses

7

3

Points per Game

1.98

1.81

Therefore, while there is not a massive drop in points per game for Arsenal without Gabriel in the side, there is still a noticeable one, and with games against Tottenham Hotspur, Bayern Munich and Chelsea coming up, that is a worry.

However, Arteta has more than enough replacements for his monster centre-back, including one who could come as a bit of a surprise.

Arsenal's surprise Gabriel replacement

The consensus among most Arsenal fans at the moment seems to be that either Riccardo Calafiori or Cristhian Mosquera would be the ideal replacements for Gabriel this weekend.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

The former has been in fine form all season, and the latter has shown glimpses of real talent when he’s stepped in.

However, while either player would make total sense, another, more surprising option Arteta could go with is Ben White.

Yes, the former Brighton & Hove Albion man does feel like something of a forgotten man at the moment, and has spent most of his time at the club playing right-back, but the £50m signing could come in and do a job on Sunday.

After all, while he hasn’t played there consistently for some time – his last start in the middle was back in October 2024 – the Englishman was signed as a centre-back and spent the entirety of the 21/22 season playing there, and playing well.

In fact, the only reason he was moved to the right was because William Saliba was finally given a go, and Gabriel was not at all suited to playing at full-back.

Moreover, by playing the Poole-born ace there, Calafiori won’t have to vacate a position he has been incredible in all year, a young Mosquera won’t be thrown into one of the most tense games of the season, and the same could be said for Piero Hincapie.

Finally, and this is particularly pertinent for the game against Spurs, the 28-year-old is, in the words of journalist Charles Watts, a “master of the dark arts.”

In other words, he could be the perfect player to get under the skin of the Spurs players and either throw them off their game or even get them sent off.

Furthermore, he has a track record of making life particularly difficult for Guglielmo Vicario.

Ultimately, it would be a surprise and something of a risk, but even so, Arteta should look to start White at centre-back for Arsenal while Gabriel is out.

A new Zubimendi: Berta makes first move to sign "Rodri-like" CM for Arsenal

The incredibly exciting prospect could be another Zubimendi for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 20, 2025

Manchester United fell to a disappointing defeat at Manchester City on Sunday, and Roy Keane didn’t mince his words when reviewing one Red Devils star’s performance.

Manchester United come unstuck in comprehensive derby defeat

Truthfully, the Red Devils were second-best by a considerable margin as they begin to deal with the fallout of a derby loss that has left them sitting 14th in the Premier League table.

Ruben Amorim will be the man who cops the majority of criticism, something that seems only natural as he has now won just eight of his opening 31 matches in the English top-flight, which isn’t a run of form that bodes well when factoring in the size of Manchester United.

Speaking on Premier League Productions, former Red Devils midfielder Owen Hargreaves was stunned that Kobbie Mainoo wasn’t chosen to start against Pep Guardiola’s men, claiming that he ended up being the best player on the pitch for the visitors in the end.

He stated: “Where do you start? There are a lot of issues. How Kobbie Mainoo doesn’t play in this team I’ll never know. He came on for that game and in half hour he was probably their best player, by a country mile. So first of all he’s got to play. Sesko is not ready. He scored lots of goals in Germany but he didn’t look ready today.”

The damage had already been done by that point, and plenty of Manchester United stars have come in for criticism after an unceremonious display.

Altay Bayindir and Manuel Ugarte were two culprits, though football is a team game and everyone needs to take their share of the blame as Manchester United look to bounce back against Chelsea this weekend.

While there is still every chance Amorim’s men can turn around their fortunes, Roy Keane was frank in his assessment of one star’s performance at the Etihad Stadium.

Luke Shaw earns the brunt of Roy Keane criticism after Man Utd defeat

Live on Sky Sports, Roy Keane indicated that Luke Shaw’s performance fell below expectations against Manchester City, citing his role in Phil Foden’s opening goal during proceedings, which the Irishman feels he could’ve done more to prevent.

He stated via The Mirror: “Very good from City, Doku and Foden. Timing perfect not getting in there too early. But United’s defending, the two midfielders beforehand are too square, and Shaw just gives up.

Wayne Rooney scores goal like Man Utd 2011 Champions League final in Seoul

Some players never lose their ability even after retirement…

BySean Markus Clifford Sep 14, 2025

“It’s a nice bit of skill, but Shaw’s an England international player. He’s got hundreds of games under his belt, he doesn’t even get his body position right. It’s like he has thrown the towel in.

“We know people can run off the back of Bruno, that’s been going on for years. But my goodness, even before that, you’ve got two midfielders – they are too square. One pass takes them out. Far too easy. Shaw just throws the towel in there.”

Although criticism of evidently talented players is sometimes harsh, Manchester United were culpable of lapses defensively and came up against a ruthless opponent who dispatched three of their four ‘big chances’ created to claim three points.

Ultimately, Manchester City are a side likely to contend for the title, and conceding countless opportunities is always likely to result in punishment, something that Shaw and his teammates will now hope to rectify.

Setting their sights on a busy end to the transfer window, Aston Villa have now reportedly agreed a deal to sign a bargain defender ahead of Premier League rivals Everton.

Aston Villa's deadline day plans

Ahead of Monday’s deadline, Villa Park chiefs have suddenly burst into life in the transfer market. Unai Emery could yet welcome a number of reinforcements before the window slams shut as a result and get his wish of two players in every position.

One of those could, of course, be Marco Asensio. The Paris Saint-Germain winger enjoyed a successful loan spell in the Midlands last season and now looks destined to complete a permanent move just in time. And he’s not the only one on Villa’s radar.

As reported by Sacha Tavolieri, the final day of the transfer window could yet see a major goalkeeper saga unfold. The transfer reporter claimed that Manchester United have now turned their focus towards Emiliano Martinez rather than Senne Lammens and, as such, Aston Villa are targeting a move for Porto’s Diogo Costa.

The reporter even went as far as to say that the Villans are in advanced talks to sign the shot-stopper, who would be an instant replacement for Martinez if he heads to Manchester United.

The World Cup winner has been linked with a move away from Villa Park all summer long and now looks set to get his move. Villa, meanwhile, have reportedly agreed a deal to welcome another defensive reinforcement.

Aston Villa set to sign Lindelof

According to Fabrizio Romano, Aston Villa have now reached an “agreement” to sign Victor Lindelof, whose medical is already “underway” ahead of becoming the latest player to arrive in the Midlands. Joining as a free agent, the Villans are set to welcome an experienced central defender at a bargain price.

Whilst Lindelof’s arrival won’t steal the same headlines as Costa might, he may prove to be just as important. The 31-year-old has played at a very top level and is no stranger to the Premier League after spending eight years at Manchester United.

In a mixed spell, the Swede also still earned plenty of praise. Former United graduate Fraizer Campbell described the defender as “brilliant” in the 2023/24 campaign and there’s still every chance that he can reach those same levels at Villa Park.

Aston Villa now pushing for "incredible" late signing after shock £47m bid

The Villans have made their move…

ByTom Cunningham Aug 31, 2025

In what could be the start of a busy final 24 hours for Aston Villa, Lindelof represents a solid piece of business.

Manchester United have now held internal talks over signing a former Barcelona player on a free transfer this summer, according to a report.

Man Utd eyeing cut-price deal after Europa League disaster

Of course, winning trophies is always important for a club the size of Man United, but Europa League glory was arguably even more important from a financial point of view, given that success in the competition grants qualification to the Champions League.

Having failed to qualify for Europe’s elite competition next season, United are thought to have missed out on £85m, which could hamper their ability to bring in their top targets this summer, in what could be a very important window.

That is according to Jamie Carragher, who has insisted the Red Devils will need to splash the cash to rebuild Ruben Amorim’s squad, although the former Liverpool man has doubts over whether the former Sporting CP boss is the right man for the job.

Carragher said: “Backing him means getting behind a big idea; a system of play that is uncommon among the elite of Europe, requiring specialist footballers and a squad of back-up wing-backs and centre-halves so he can play three at the back.

“It means spending big on redesigning the squad to meet Amorim’s specific needs in the knowledge that, if he underperforms again next season, his successor will most likely revert to a flat back four.”

However, it appears as though INEOS are set to stand by Amorim, and they have now set their sights on a new target, who could suit the manager’s style of play, having internally discussed a move for Wolverhampton Wanders right-wing back Nelson Semedo.

That is according to a report from Football Transfers, which states Semedo’s name has been raised during talks over Matheus Cunha, with the full-back set to leave Molineux on a free transfer this summer.

Man Utd also ready to pay £44m release clause for "king of kings" after Cunha

The Red Devils are now willing to trigger the release clause for another striker to partner up with Cunha at Old Trafford.

ByDominic Lund May 26, 2025 "Outstanding" Semedo could be ideal for Amorim

The 31-year-old is accustomed to playing at right-wing-back, which could make him a good fit in Amorim’s three-at-the-back system, while his availability on a free transfer is ideal for Man United, having missed out on Champions League football.

Not only that, but the £80k-a-week Wolves star has proven himself in the Premier League over the course of a number of years, with Garth Crooks saying in the 2023-24 season: “Nelson Semedo deserved a mention as he was outstanding. His ability to get forward, but also defend with equal measure, was impressive.”

Admittedly, the former Barcelona man wouldn’t be the most exciting of signings, and there are other areas of the squad in more urgent need of strengthening, with the lack of goals from Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee a real problem.

However, Semedo could be a solid signing as a rotation option at the very least, and the fact the Portuguese defender is available on a free transfer makes him even more appealing.

Liverpool have received a boost in their pursuit of a £84m striker, as he is now keen on a summer move to Anfield, according to a report.

Reds set sights on new striker

While Mohamed Salah may have received most of the plaudits, Jamie Carragher has asserted that the Reds having lots of different goalscorers is the reason they won the Premier League title, considering Arsenal have been more defensively solid.

However, the lack of a dependable centre-forward is a real concern for former Red Danny Murphy, who has claimed Arne Slot is no great admirer of Darwin Nunez, saying: “Slot obviously doesn’t fancy him.

“Slot has played a winger, Luis Diaz, ahead of him as a striker at times. That tells you everything you need to know.”

Murphy also states he would be “amazed” if Nunez remains at Anfield beyond the summer, and work has started on bringing in a potential replacement for the Uruguayan, with DaveOCKOP recently dropping a new update on Liverpool’s pursuit of Benjamin Sesko.

Sky Sports: Liverpool may sell "amazing" £50m player after transfer twist

He played in the 3-2 defeat away to Brighton on Monday night.

ByHenry Jackson May 20, 2025

The report states that Sesko is now interested in a move to Anfield this summer, with the Reds holding a serious interest, but a concrete offer may have to wait until after Nunez is offloaded, with Napoli and clubs from Saudi Arabia keen on the 25-year-old.

The Slovenian striker is attracting interest from across Europe, but a deal will not be cheap, with RB Leipzig looking to hold out for a fee of €100m (£84m), although there may be some leeway to negotiate a lower fee.

"Incredible" Sesko admired by Jürgen Klopp

Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is known to be a big admirer of the 21-year-old, stating he has “incredible potential” earlier this year, while also detailing that he is happy to have him at a Red Bull Group-owned club.

The forward certainly isn’t short of admirers, with former Leipzig technical director Christopher Vivell also adding: “Benjamin is a real goalscorer, who despite his 1.95m (6’4″) is mobile and technically strong. His abilities make him a special player with a special profile.”

The Reds are known to have a good business relationship with Leipzig, which they will be hoping they can use to their advantage in negotiations, as it is evident that Slot will need to bring in an upgrade on Nunez this summer.

The former Benfica man has just five Premier League goals to his name this season, so it is exciting news that Sesko is now a serious target to replace the striker, alongside a number of other top forwards.

Player

Current club

Potential cost

Viktor Gyokeres

Sporting CP

£60m

Hugo Ekitike

Eintracht Frankfurt

£84m

Alexander Isak

Newcastle United

£150m

Victor Osimhen

Napoli

£60m