Celtic are in the midst of building for the new campaign and are now closing in on a winger who would provide a much-needed fresh face in the wake of a key departure, according to a report.
Nicolas Kuhn's Celtic exit prompts frantic transfer movement
After 18 successful months in Glasgow, Nicolas Kuhn is joining Como from the Scottish Premiership champions in a deal that will see the Bhoys earn a tidy profit on the former Germany Under-20 international, who was brought in from Rapid Vienna for £3 million.
Fabrizio Romano confirmed the Celtic winger’s departure on social media platform X, stating: “Nicolas Kühn, on his way to Italy as he signs in as new Como player on €19m from Celtic. Agreement done as revealed last week and Kühn on his way with agent Fabian Dingler. Here we go, confirmed.”
Leaving Brendan Rodgers short of options out wide, the Bhoys have reacted by putting in a bid for Rapid Vienna star Isak Jansson, who could follow in Kuhn’s footsteps by leaving the Austrian Bundesliga side for Parkhead.
Their offer is said to be in the £2.5 million range, though an unnamed side have put forward a £3.4 million proposal for the Swede, potentially sparking a bidding war between interested parties.
Attacking reinforcements appear likely to arrive sooner rather than later, with Celtic also focused on deals for Kawasaki Frontale striker Shin Yamada and Napoli’s Giuseppe Ambrosino.
Celtic’s opening five matches of their Scottish Premiership title defence
St Mirren (H)
Celtic Park
Aberdeen (A)
Pittodrie
Livingston (H)
Celtic Park
Rangers (A)
Ibrox
Kilmarnock (A)
Rugby Park
Following an end to last term that felt like a slight grind to a halt, new faces are needed to provide a spark once again and the Bhoys are now close to landing a key target, per recent developments.
Celtic close to signing Royal Antwerp winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha
According to Voetbalkrant, Royal Antwerp winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha is close to joining Celtic and Marc Overmars is keen to push through a deal swiftly so the Belgian Pro League outfit can begin to work on incomings.
Financially, Antwerp are in a position where they need to sell before they can buy, and it appears that the Bhoys are now on the verge of taking the 24-year-old off their hands for a ‘hefty sum’ of money.
Celtic can sign a better ST than Kvistgaarden in "complete" £6.8m star
Celtic could forget all about Mathias Kvistgaarden by signing this striker this summer.
1 ByDan Emery Jul 6, 2025
Enjoying a productive campaign, Balikwisha registered four goals and three assists in 18 appearances across 2024/25. However, injuries have limited his scope to make a greater impact over the last couple of years.
Either way, Celtic are now set to land a key reinforcement out wide and one they have targeted for a long time, providing an injection of quality once Kuhn completes his move to Como.
Time is of the essence for the Bhoys ahead of their Champions League playoff tie in August, so fans will be waiting with anticipation hoping an announcement will soon follow.
It’s certainly an exciting time to be an Evertonian, something that very much has not always been the case in recent decades.
David Moyes’ men concluded the last campaign with three successive victories, thereby finishing 13th, the perfect way to wave goodbye to Goodison and commence the club’s new era.
Everton managerDavidMoyescelebrates after the match
From this season, the Toffees will now call the Hill Dickinson Stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock home, their first-ever Premier League fixture there coming up against Brighton & Hove Albion on the weekend of 23 August.
Ahead of the new campaign, Everton have been busy in the transfer market, so are they about to land another key target?
Everton's search for reinforcements
So far this summer, both Abdoulaye Doucouré and Dominic Calvert-Lewin have departed following the expiration of their contracts; the duo made a combined 439 appearances for the Blues.
In better news, star centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite has signed a new five-year contract, while centre-forward Thierno Barro is set to arrive from Villarreal for a reported £30m.
Now, according to Mick Brown of Football Insider, Everton are interested in signing Wilfred Ndidi from Leicester City this summer.
The Nigerian is available for as little as £9m, thanks to a ‘release clause’ which was activated following the Foxes’ relegation back to the EFL Championship.
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Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Thus, he adds that Ndidi will definitely be on the move this summer, claiming many ‘top clubs across Europe’ are monitoring the situation, but Moyes is ‘prepared to rival other interested clubs for his signature’.
A deal could even be done for just £5m, according to GIVEMESPORT, who report that both the Toffees and Manchester United have started ‘working’ on a deal.
So, could the 28-year-old swap the East Midlands for Merseyside?
How Wilfred Ndidi would improve Everton
At the peak of his powers, Ndidi was extremely highly rated, with Adrian Clarke of the Premier League labelling him the division’s ‘most effective all-round holding midfielder’, adding that his ‘greatest strength is his uncomplicated style’.
This led to mass speculation that he would move to one of the country’s biggest clubs, Arsenal and Man United purportedly amongst those chasing his signature at the peak of his powers, but the Nigerian has remained loyal to Leicester, making over 300 appearances for the Foxes to date.
He’s represented the club in all three major UEFA competitions, as well as the EFL Championship, but, following yet another relegation, is seemingly pushing for a move.
So, how does he compare to the man he could be replacing in Everton’s midfield, namely Doucouré?
Appearances
28
33
Minutes
2,337
2,577
Goals
Zero
3
Assists
5
2
All statistics below are on a per-90 basis.
Shots
0.8
0.7
Chances created
0.7
1
Attempted passes
38.7
30.6
Forward passes
10.5
7.1
Passing accuracy %
82.35%
82.74%
Duels contested
13.8
10
Duels won
6.9
3.8
Ground duel success %
49.36%
36.67%
Tackles
3.3
1.7
Interceptions
1.2
0.4
Touches
57
43
As the table outlines, pretty much across the board, Ndidi’s statistics are more impressive than those of Doucouré.
The Mali international did score three goals last season, to the Nigerian’s zero, and created 0.3 more chances per-90, but that’s about all he has going for him.
Ndidi comes out on top in terms of shots, despite being deployed a lot deeper in midfield, as well as passes, duels, tackles, interceptions and touches, which is ultra-impressive, considering he was playing for a largely hopeless Leicester side.
Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labelled him “an absolute beast”, while Mak Pakhei of Total Football Analysis describes him as ‘physically strong’ and a duel-winning monster, noting that he was one of Leicester’s ‘most crucial players’ when they were regularly finishing in the top five and won the FA Cup in 2021.
Wilfred Ndidi
So, if Everton are able to convince him to move to Merseyside, for around £5m-£9m, Ndidi would represent an absolute bargain.
Everton hold advanced talks to sign "superb" free agent in bargain deal
Everton manager David Moyes is aiming to build a side that will be able to secure a top-half finish in the Premier League in their first season at the club’s new stadium.
It is the start of a new era for the Merseyside outfit and what better way to commemorate it by emerging from their recent malaise and moving forward under Moyes.
Much will depend on the transfer business that the club manage to pull off this summer. So far, only Carlos Alcaraz has joined the Toffees. Even then, the South American starlet spent the last six months of the 2024/25 campaign on loan. Therefore, he is hardly a brand-new arrival.
A few days ago, it was reported that Everton were in talks to sign Fulham right-back Kenny Tete on a free transfer.
Season
Final placing
2024/25
13th
2012/13
6th
2011/12
7th
2010/11
7th
2009/10
8th
2008/09
5th
2007/08
5th
2006/07
6th
2005/06
11th
2004/05
4th
2003/04
17th
2002/03
7th
2001/02
15th
Moyes is keen on bringing in another full-back, especially on the right side of the defence, and with Tete available for nothing, it is a move that makes perfect sense.
Another player who the club are targeting is Villarreal centre-forward Thierno Barry, who enjoyed a stellar campaign in 2024/25.
Villarreal's Thierno Barry
Considering Everton scored just 42 goals throughout the Premier League last term, the lowest of any club outside the relegation zone, improving in the attacking department is a major priority for Moyes.
As such, signing Barry could turn into a solid piece of business, especially as he looks ready to take the next step in his career.
Why Everton must sign Thierno Barry
Last season, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Beto and Armando Broja netted just 13 goals between them, highlighting that this area in the squad needs to be vastly improved.
Barry could be the perfect solution for Moyes. Indeed, the Frenchman made a total of 41 appearances for the La Liga club last term, scoring 19 goals and registering four assists in the process.
Villarreal's Thierno Barry
He also shone across various metrics when compared to his positional peers in the Spanish top flight last season. Not only did the striker rank in the top 25% for non-penalty goals (0.39) per 90, but he also ranked in the top 27% for total shots (2.75) and in the top 17% for aerials won (3.84) per 90.
Although they might not be a spell-binding array of statistics, considering it was his debut season in Spain, it suggests that Barry is only going to get better and better as time goes on.
The striker has spent the previous few weeks representing France at the U21 European Championships. Across his five games at the competition, Barry has scored once, averaged two shots per game and created two big chances, despite averaging just 37 minutes per game for France.
His future looks bright indeed. Should he make the move to the Toffees, could he be a success on Merseyside? Only time will tell on that front.
Moyes will be keen to supplement the signing of Barry by adding further attacking talent this summer, especially those who can help make the French starlet even better.
Might he possibly be eyeing up a move for an Englishman who impressed in the Premier League last season?
Latest Everton transfer news
While Barry is the main attacking target, Moyes has also shown interest in Timothy Weah and James McAtee this summer already.
Transfer Focus
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Both players would improve the club’s attacking options, without a shadow of a doubt, although they may cost the club a pretty penny.
According to TEAMtalk, Everton are now exploring a potential move for Ipswich Town attacking midfielder Omari Hutchinson this summer.
Ipswich Town'sOmariHutchinsonreacts
Amid Ipswich’s relegation, several clubs, including the Toffees, Brentford and West Ham, are waiting to make a move for the player, who is valued at €28m (£24m) according to Football Transfers.
The Tractor Boys may have struggled last term, but Hutchinson was one of the few bright sparks, and it is likely he will depart.
Moyes must make sure he is at the front of the queue to sign the talented Englishman, especially as he could be a dream signing for Barry.
Why Omari Hutchinson could be a dream for Thierno Barry
Last season, Hutchinson played 31 Premier League games for Ipswich, scoring three goals and grabbing two assists.
While it wasn’t enough to prevent their relegation, he impressed in large spells, which is now leading to attention in the transfer market.
Aside from his goal contributions, Hutchinson also created six big chances, averaged one key pass per game and succeeded with 1.6 dribbles per game. This is made even more impressive by the fact Ipswich averaged just 40% possession across their 38 league games last term.
It proves that when the Englishman had the ball, he was willing to make things happen for his teammates, indicating that he would be a dream signing for Barry.
Not only would the youngster create chances for the Frenchman, but he would also be able to consistently get into dangerous positions in the final third.
Labelled “dazzling” by Statman Dave in the Championship, he spent the early part of the summer helping England U21s reach the final of the European Championship, playing a key role in their success.
Hutchinson has started four of England’s five matches and, as well as grabbing an assist, he has also created three big chances, averages 1.8 key passes and succeeds with an impressive 2.2 dribbles per game at the tournament.
If England go on to defeat Germany in the final, it will largely be due to Hutchinson’s impressive performances.
Moyes will surely have one eye on the final this weekend, especially as the club have joined the list of potential suitors for his signature.
Getting a move for Barry over the line will be his priority firstly. But once this deal is signed, sealed and delivered, lining up Hutchinson will be on the agenda.
It all depends on the fee Ipswich demands, but if it is reasonable, the Toffees should be all over the move. That’s for sure.
Everton now confident in their bid to sign forward with £34m release clause
Everton are now ready to progress forward with a deal to sign a new striker, who wants the move.
In an attempt to get their summer business going, Aston Villa have reportedly submitted an opening offer to sign a defensive target for Unai Emery whose release clause expires soon.
Aston Villa set for tough Newcastle opener
If Aston Villa are keen to find out where their squad is at in the early stages of next season then their opening day Premier League meeting with Newcastle United will hand them the perfect chance to do exactly that. The Villans have been handed a tough start against one of last year’s top five, but Emery will also be well aware that victory over the Magpies would send quite the statement.
Aston Villa vs Newcastle United
16/08/2025
Brentford vs Aston Villa
23/08/2025
Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace
30/08/2025
Everton vs Aston Villa
13/09/2025
Sunderland vs Aston Villa
20/09/2025
Once the Midlands club have got Newcastle out of the way, they have the chance to enjoy a far more routine run on paper. Away trips to Brentford, Everton and Sunderland represent realistic opportunities for three points, whilst the visit of Crystal Palace should also be seen as a game that the Villans are favourites to win.
It’s the type of start that Aston Villa could need following what could be a difficult summer amid PSR concerns. Despite their growing success over the last couple of years, Villa’s spending in the years prior could yet force them to sell at least one key man in the coming months before they can focus on potential incomings.
Real Betis'JesusRodriguezcelebrates scoring their second goal
That said, their PSR concerns have not stopped the rumours from arriving when it comes to additions. Names such as Jesus Rodriguez have already threatened to steal the headlines and now those at Villa Park have also reportedly set their sights on signing a defensive addition.
Aston Villa submit opening Lucumi offer
According to Corriere dello Sport, as relayed by Sport Witness, Aston Villa have tabled an opening offer to sign Jhon Lucumi from Bologna this summer. That initial bid was below the defender’s reported €28m (£24m) release clause, however, and is unlikely to be entertained by Bologna anytime soon.
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He’s a Premier League winner…
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Whether the Villans go again in pursuit of the defender remains to be seen. Bologna certainly hold all of the cards if those in the Midlands decide against triggering Lucumi’s release clause, which reportedly expires on July 10.
Given that they need to be in the market for bargain deals amid their PSR concerns, Aston Villa should think again about returning for Lucumi this summer. For just £24m, until July 10, they can sign a “composed” centre-back who can play with both feet to an “excellent” standard, according to analyst Ben Mattinson.
Goals, goals and more goals; if there was a thing Arsenal missed this season, it was goals.
Mikel Arteta’s side managed to secure a third successive second-placed finish in the Premier League this season, but unlike the last two campaigns, it was a truly distant second place.
Liverpool ended up finishing ten points ahead of the Gunners, and arguably worse than that, they scored a whopping 17 more goals than the North Londoners.
Arsenal manager MikelArtetaduring a lap of appreciation after the match
So, with this in mind, it’s hardly been a surprise to see Arsenal linked with a host of incredible strikers in recent weeks, including one who’s supposedly better than Erling Haaland and would be an upgrade on Benjamin Sesko.
Arsenal's striker search
Given their struggles in attack this season, Arsenal have been linked with a plethora of outstanding strikers in recent weeks and months, from Sporting CPs free-scoring Viktor Gyokeres to Aston Villa’s brilliant Ollie Watkins and even Newcastle United’s likely unattainable Alexander Isak.
How Arsenal's striker targets compare in 2024/25.
However, over the last week or so, a frontrunner to come in and lead the line for the Gunners next season has emerged in Sesko.
The Slovenian forward has been a target for the club since last summer, but according to reports last week, talks between his representatives and the two teams seem to be progressing well.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Yet, another goalscorer has now entered the picture, someone who’d be an upgrade on the RB Leipzig star and who’d hold his own against Haaland: Victor Osimhen.
Yes, according to a recent report from Italian publication Tuttosport, Arsenal are one of several teams now interested in the on-loan Napoli ace.
The report claims that the Nigerian international turned down the opportunity to move to the Saudi Pro League because teams like the Gunners and Manchester United are now keen to sign him.
However, on top of dealing with the competition, the North Londoners will also have to cough up around £63m to activate the release clause in his current contract open to teams outside of Serie A.
Galatasaray's VictorOsimhenreacts
It could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Osimhen’s immense ability, it is one worth fighting for, especially as he’d be a big upgrade on Sesko.
How Osimhen compares to Sesko and Haaland
So, if Osimhen is currently one of the options for Arsenal this summer, it’s worth seeing how he stacks up with Sesko, who might be his biggest competition at the moment.
Yet, with the Nigerian international being described as “even better than Haaland” by Italian agent Andrea D’Amico, it’s also worth including the Manchester City star in the comparisons, as should the Napoli star move to North London, the Norwegian will be leading the line for one of his biggest title rivals.
With that said, when it comes to their pure output this season, it looks like D’Amico is correct, as it’s the Lagos-born “superhuman,” as dubbed by journalist Paolo Esposito, who comes out on top.
In 41 appearances, totalling 3236 minutes, he was able to score 37 goals and provide eight assists for Galatasaray, which comes out to an average of 1.09 goal involvements every game, or one every 71.91 minutes.
For his efforts, the City star scored 31 goals and provided four assists in 44 appearances, totalling 3786 minutes, which comes out to a goal involvement every 1.25 games, or one every 108.17 minutes.
Appearances
41
44
45
Minutes
3236′
3786′
3258′
Goals
37
31
21
Assists
8
4
6
Goal Involvements per Match
1.09
0.79
0.60
Minutes per Goal Involvement
71.91′
108.17′
120.66′
Finally, the Leipzig star was the worst of the three, scoring 21 goals and providing six assists in 45 appearances, totalling 3258 minutes, which translates to a goal involvement every 1.66 games or every 120.66 minutes.
Moreover, while the former Salzburg gem is the youngest and, therefore, might make the most sense in the long term, Arteta and Co are at a point in the project at which winning here and now has to take precedence over what might be best for a few years down the line.
Galatasaray's VictorOsimhenis picture wearing a protective face mask
Therefore, it makes sense to sign someone who massively outperformed both Sesko and Haaland this summer, which is why Arsenal should be going all in on Osimhen.
Arsenal set to submit bid for "incredible" star who's like Rodrygo & Yamal
The impressive winger would be a great addition to Arsenal’s squad.
While there was nothing riding on Sunday afternoon’s game between Arsenal and Southampton, it was still a frustrating match for the Gunners, one that told the story of how this season has gone.
Draws have been Mikel Arteta’s downfall, as have conceding from set-pieces. A draw looked likely until the 90th minute when Martin Odegaard fired home a rare goal, but that defensive ineptitude from set-plays came back to bite them again.
The visitors took the lead through Kieran Tierney but a second-half goal from Ross Stewart at a corner looked as though it has handed the Saints just their 13th point of an arduous campaign.
Truth be told, Southampton deserved to take something from the game for all their endeavour, but in a classic tale of their own season, they couldn’t hold on.
So, what do we discuss from this one? Perhaps we’ll start with a host of farewells for those at Arsenal.
Arsenal's triumphant send off
It’s safe to say this was not the strongest of lineups from Arteta, who selected the aforementioned Tierney at centre-half, Ethan Nwaneri on the right and Raheem Sterling on the left. Oleksandr Zinchenko even featured at left-back.
The performance of all four of those players was rather mixed, although for Tierney, it was a heroic send off.
The Scot is set to leave the Emirates Stadium behind this summer at the conclusion of his contract and having appeared in front of the home support one last time a week ago, concluded his Arsenal journey with a goal on Sunday.
What he was doing popping up inside the box is anyone’s guess but the defender got across his man and steered the ball home from close range after Ben White had picked him out.
While Tierney enjoyed his final day in Arsenal colours, Sterling certainly did not.
Upon signing for the club, he revealed that we were ‘going to see the best’ of him. That couldn’t be further from the truth.
The winger, on loan from Chelsea, is set to return to his parent club and will do so having failed to score in the Premier League all season.
His performance at St Mary’s summed up his sorry loan spell. The England international had just a solitary shot and didn’t create a key pass before he was subbed off in the 63rd minute.
Minutes played
63
Touches
30
Accurate passes
15/15
Key passes
0
Accurate crosses
0/1
Shots on target
0
Shots off target
1
Successful dribbles
1/2
Possession lost
4x
Tackles
1
Elsewhere, it may also have been a final day out in Arsenal colours for Thomas Partey, whose contract expires at the end of the season.
Reports suggest that the club would like to keep him in north London but there has been no breakthrough in contract talks just yet.
Of the rest of the Arsenal starters, it feels likely that it was Zinchenko’s final outing too.
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Why Arsenal must get rid of Zinchenko
When the £30m Ukrainian signed for the club in 2022, it marked a bit of a revolution in the Arteta era.
He joined alongside Gabriel Jesus that summer from Manchester City and it looked like the two missing pieces of the jigsaw had been added.
Zinchenko was a fine addition and looked a million dollars playing in that inverted full-back role. However, as voiced by certain sections of the media, he has proven himself to be too much of a “liability” from a defensive point of view.
You can’t criticise the left-back’s technique or touch. That was evident against Southampton when he plucked a high ball out of the sky with remarkable composure, stopping it dead in his feet. He didn’t do a whole lot wrong this weekend, but then again, he also didn’t produce anything too positive against the division’s worst side.
Minutes played
70
Touches
86
Accurate passes
60/63 (95%)
Key passes
1
Accurate crosses
2/3
Ground duels won
2/3
Aerial duels won
1/1
Possession lost
6x
Interceptions
1
Tackles
2
At the technical side of the game, he is outstanding; very few left-backs can do what he does. Sadly for the 28-year-old, his time at the club is likely now going to come to an end.
Back in January, the Ukraine international was attracting interest from Borussia Dortmund but whether their interest is still there, remains to be seen.
Zinchenko would undoubtedly still make for a fine squad player, although with the emergence of Myles Lewis-Skelly and the presence of Riccardo Calafiori, he simply isn’t going to get much game time.
It perhaps said it all on Sunday that without Odegaard starting, Arteta preferred Nwaneri as the more advanced midfielder, rather than Zinchenko, something the manager had tried with relative success in games against PSV Eindhoven and Brentford in the latter stages of the season.
While he did score against PSV, that is now likely to be his last goal in the red and white of Arsenal.
After 91 appearances for the Londoners, it’s time for him to move on.
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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.
Wolverhampton Wanderers' Andre and NelsonSemedo
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.
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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.
Liverpool's DarwinNunezcelebrates after winning the Premier League
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.
With INEOS looking to send a statement this summer, Manchester United are now reportedly ready to table a shock offer worth as much as £85m to sign a Premier League rival.
Man Utd must get summer incomings right
In what feels like an Old Trafford groundhog day, Manchester United cannot afford to get their incomings wrong this summer. Like in 2014 under David Moyes and then under the likes of Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunner Solskjaer, the Red Devils are in no position to make mistakes in the transfer market as they look to hand their latest manager the keys to unlock a place among Europe’s elite again at long last.
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What does seem to be different about Ruben Amorim compared to Moyes, Van Gaal, Solskjaer and in some ways even Mourinho is just how honest he’s been about the extent of the task in front of him.
Even in the build-up to Manchester United’s 7-1 aggregate mauling of Athletic Bilbao to reach the Europa League final, Amorim assured reporters that silverware would not take away from what has been a disastrous season.
The former Sporting Club boss told reporters: “For me, in that moment and you look at Premier League, we are the worst team since I arrived in terms of results. That is my idea. In the end of the season, we can be the worst team in Premier League history with a European title.
Manchester United manager RubenAmorimbefore the match
“So we will not change anything. We know that this season was disappointing. Nothing is going to change, in that moment, I have to think a bit more but I felt that. I still feel that this season was the worst in the last 50 years.”
Whether the Red Devils have what it takes to overcome Tottenham Hotspur in the final is another question, but if they do manage to win the competition then their transfer plans could become all the more interesting.
Man Utd readying shock Tonali offer
According to Corriere dello Sport, as relayed by Sport Witness, INEOS and Manchester United are now ready to table a stunning €100m (£85m) offer to sign Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United this summer. In an ambitious move, the Red Devils have set their sights on the Italian, who has enjoyed an excellent season at St James’ Park.
Starts
25
21
Goals
3
1
Progressive Carries
33
16
Ball Recoveries
163
117
Manchester United’s interest, whether a deal is feasible or not, should come as no surprise. As the numbers show, Tonali would be an instant upgrade on Manuel Ugarte and perhaps the difference between taking Amorim’s side into Europe and a place in mid-table once again next season.
Eddie Howe will likely be keen to keep hold of his midfielder, however. Full of praise, the Newcastle boss told reporters earlier this season: “We’ve seen that in recent games from a defensive viewpoint now more than an attacking viewpoint, where he’s sprinting to put out fires for us, nicking balls, intercepting balls, using his athleticism to track runners. He’s been excellent in that respect and think that’s really helped the team.”
Manchester United are now eyeing a move to sign a £42 million “fantastic” ace for Ruben Amorim, according to a recent report.
Amorim believes players still want to play for Man Utd
The 2024/25 campaign has been one of great disappointment for the Red Devils, as they look to finish in their worst ever league position in the Premier League. However, there is still a glimmer of hope, as United can end the season with silverware, as they are two games away from the Europa League final.
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Winning that competition will not only bring Amorim his first trophy as United boss, but it will also secure Champions League football for the club, and this could be huge when it comes to transfers. The Red Devils are being heavily linked with a move for Matheus Cunha of Wolves, and the Brazilian appears keen on the move to Old Trafford, which is a massive boost given the teams that are keen on signing the forward.
Amorim was asked about Cunha, and while he wouldn’t comment, he stated that he has no doubts that Man United remains an attractive proposition and “every player wants to play for the club”.
Amorim said: “It’s Manchester United. Every player wants to play for Manchester United.
“If you look at our club in the moment, with all the problems, including changing coach, it looks a little bit of a problem. But we have a clear idea, and that’s the easiest part to explain for a player.”
Man Utd eyeing £42m bid to sign "fantastic" ace ahead of Bayern Munich
Amorim will already have an idea of which players he wants to bring to Old Trafford, and securing Champions League football may just help them, especially when they find themselves in a transfer battle with European giants. According to a report from Spain, Man United are considering making a £42 million bid to sign Alex Baena from La Liga side Villarreal.
The report states that Amorim is keen to strengthen United’s attacking options for next season and has therefore earmarked signing Baena from Villarreal. Amorim sees the player becoming a key part of his project at Old Trafford, and United are now considering making an offer for the player, which will total €50m (£42m).
The Red Devils hope the fact that they are willing to make an offer for the 23-year-old Spanish international means they can beat Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich, who are also keen on signing Baena. Interest in Baena comes as Amorim is looking to sign versatile players who can adapt to different roles in his system.
Apps
27
Minutes per game
84
Goals
6
xG
6.20
Shots per game
2.2
Goal conversion
10%
Assists
7
xAG
11.23
Big chances created
17
Key passes
3.2
Baena, who has been dubbed “fantastic” by Jacek Kulig, is a key player for the Spanish side; last season he registered 14 assists in 34 La Liga games. The midfielder could hit similar numbers again by the end of this campaign, as he’s scored six goals and registered eight assists in 27 league games.