All posts by z3u9t.icu

Aston Villa are now racing Chelsea for the signature of an “outstanding” ace, having conducted checks during the international break.

Villa keen on new defender after disappointing start

Just three games into the new Premier League season, Unai Emery clearly has real problems to deal with at both ends of the pitch, with his side failing to score and picking up just one point, which came on the opening day against Newcastle United.

Villa’s defensive deficiencies were also on display in the 3-0 defeat against Crystal Palace last time out, with Tyrone Mings and Matty Cash both struggling, losing the majority of the duels they contested throughout the match.

It is still a little early to go into full panic mode, but after mainly strengthening in attacking areas during the summer, signing the likes of Evann Guessand, Harvey Elliott and Jadon Sancho, the Villans have now set their sights on a new defender.

Aston Villa strong candidates to sign £22m forward, Monchi personally keen

The Villans have emerged as contenders to sign a “fantastic” forward.

ByDominic Lund Sep 11, 2025

That is according to a report from The Boot Room, which states Aston Villa have been conducting checks on Joel Ordonez during the international break, sending a scout to watch the Ecuador international in action against Argentina.

The Villa delegation may well be happy with what they saw too, given that Ecuador picked up a surprise 1-0 victory in their World Cup qualifier against the reigning champions, but there is set to be competition for the Club Brugge defender’s signature.

Chelsea also had a scout in attendance to run the rule over Ordonez, who transfer expert Graeme Bailey described as an “outstanding young defender”, before going on to add:

“It is safe to assume that he will be leaving Club Brugge in 2026. He is going to the World Cup finals next summer, and I am told that he is almost certain to have gone before that point.”

The Ecuador star also confirmed late last year he is interested in joining a Premier League club, boosting Villa’s chance of getting a deal done.

Ordonez could be expensive signing for Aston Villa

The move may be a little on the pricey side, with previous reports suggesting the Club Brugge defender is valued at around £39m by the Belgian club, but there are signs that a deal could still be worth pursuing, with the starlet particularly impressive in possession.

Statistic

Average per 90 (past year

Passes attempted

66.30 (87th percentile)

Pass completion %

91.6% (94th percentile)

Progressive passes

5.31 (92nd percentile)

Just 21-years-old, the youngster already has a great deal of first-team experience at Club Brugge, with 84 appearances to his name, including 12 in the Champions League last season.

The Ecuadorian put in an assured performance in his side’s 1-0 win against Argentina, making four clearances and two tackles, which resulted in a 7.2 SofaScore match rating, the second-highest of any player on the pitch.

Ordonez is showing maturity beyond his years, so it is promising news that Aston Villa retain an interest, and a January move should be considered if Emery is not able to solve the current defensive issues.

Chelsea are listening to offers for many members of their bloated squad this summer.

Player "personally trying to force" Chelsea move as club reduce asking price

He’s determined to join Enzo Maresca’s side.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 30, 2025

Yet more high-profile players could follow the likes of João Félix and Noni Madueke out of the Stamford Bridge exit door before deadline day on September 1, with Chelsea under some pressure from UEFA to balance out their incomings through outgoings.

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

The club struck an agreement with UEFA to do this, or risk not being able to register new signings in their Champions League squad next season (Kaveh Solhekol).

This comes after Chelsea were fined for breaching FFP rules earlier this month, which is why sales will be crucial for BlueCo despite the club being in a pretty solid position when it comes to the Premier League’s separate PSR laws.

Chelsea have raised around £158 million through transfers already this summer, coming after Ishe Samuels-Smith sealed a £6.5 million move to sister club Strasbourg on Thursday.

The defender joins Felix, Madueke, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Basir Humphreys, Marcus Bettinelli, Djordje Petrovic and Mathis Amougou on Chelsea’s list of confirmed sales so far, but many more could still leave before the deadline.

Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell, Renato Veiga, Tosin Adarabioyo, Christopher Nkunku, Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah, Carney Chukwuemeka, Lesley Ugochukwu, Armando Broja, Tosin Adarabioyo, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Alfie Gilchrist and Nicolas Jackson have all been linked with exits at some point this summer, with Chelsea demanding a premium for the latter.

According to Sky Sports, Chelsea value Jackson at up to £100 million, amid rumoured interest from Man United and other top clubs.

Chelsea sources expect Nicolas Jackson to seal 'out of nowhere' exit

Chelsea are not opposed to selling the Senegalese this summer, with Jackson enduring a torrid end to 2024/2025 despite scoring in the Conference League final against Real Betis.

He managed just one Premier League goal after the turn of the new year, spending some time on the sidelines through injury, and got sent off for a red card against Flamengo at the Club World Cup.

Journalist Simon Phillips has previously reported that Jackson’s agents are working to secure him a move elsewhere, and the same reporter has shared a fresh update via his Stamford Bridge sources.

Phillips writes that Chelsea insiders expect Jackson to seal an “out of nowhere” exit, and the former Villarreal star is now getting offers.

“SPTC sources heard just yesterday that ‘Jackson is getting offers’ now and this story is progressing. I still think he goes but again though, it’s not a dead cert that Chelsea replace him. But they will certainly explore options to do so and have a desire to do so.

“Our sources think a Jackson departure will come out of nowhere at this point.”

The 24-year-old has been linked not just to United, but a variety of Premier League sides.

It is believed by some that Aston Villa boss Unai Emery is keen to work with Jackson again, coming after the pair’s time together in La Liga at Villarreal.

He could be an adept solution for sides desperate to sign a new centre-forward, but they’ll first have to get past Chelsea’s sky-high valuation.

Even before Liverpool signed Florian Wirtz this summer, it was noted that Alexander Isak was the dream target for Arne Slot and Co.

He was the dream target for Arsenal too, only for the Gunners to decide he was too expensive. Instead, they are set to sign Viktor Gyokeres, someone who David Ornstein revealed on Tuesday was on the shortlist of the Anfield recruitment team too.

The Reds, despite their reported willingness to slap as much as £130m on the table, do have one problem. Newcastle United do not want to sell and are unlikely to change their stance on that unless an offer of around £150m was made.

That bid isn’t entirely out of the question but with Wirtz having already been signed for £116m, you sense Liverpool will need to make some sales. Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez could well be the players to make way in an attempt to fund their push for the Toon striker.

Fortunately, FSG do have alternatives lined up.

Liverpool's attacking shortlist

The idea of signing Isak is a dreamy one but it’s probably unlikely in the grand scheme of things. However, Liverpool have essentially given Newcastle an ultimatum. Let us have Isak or we’ll make a play to sign your number one target, Hugo Ekitike.

The Magpies reportedly made an offer to sign the Frenchman on Monday, one that was rejected, but the Merseyside outfit are also at the table and will allegedly turn their attention to Eintracht Frankfurt striker if Isak is unattainable.

According to the Daily Mail, other options this summer could be Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, Brentford’s Yoane Wissa and rather surprisingly, Marcus Rashford.

Transfer Focus

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

Given Nunez’s likely exit, Liverpool will certainly need to replace him but with Diaz also potentially on his way to Bayern Munich – subject of a bid this week – signing cover there may also be required.

That’s where Real Madrid superstar Rodrygo comes into the equation. Since Xabi Alonso arrived in the Spanish capital, he’s not particularly favoured the Brazilian.

He could be looking for an exit route out of Madrid, having played just 92 minutes at this summer’s Club World Cup in the USA. For much of the ongoing window, Arsenal had looked like favourites to secure the winger’s signature but Liverpool have burst into the race this week.

That’s according to reports from Spain that reveal ‘Liverpool will send an emissary to Madrid to sign him’.

They are now said to be ahead of Chelsea and Arsenal in the race to sign Rodrygo, although Bayern are considering entering the fight if they fail in their attempts to sign Diaz.

Madrid value the 24-year-old at €100m (£87m), but Richard Hughes and Co hope to be able to negotiate that price down.

What Rodrygo could add to the Liverpool attack

Signing Rodrygo and Isak this summer would be unlikely, but wow, would this make Liverpool favourites for the Premier League title again.

It’s not completely beyond the realms of fantasy to suggest they could be playing in the same team this season. Darwin Nunez is likely to fetch a price tag of close to £50m while Diaz, if he departs Anfield, will be sold for over £58m after Bayern’s offer totally that amount was rejected this week.

So, there are some additional funds there, and while signing an elite centre-forward will be the priority, Rodrygo would be a dazzling addition to the Reds’ forward line.

First and foremost, the Brazil international is a winger. He favours the left-hand side of the pitch but as he cohabited in the same team as Kylian Mbappe and Vini Jr last season, he played in an unfavoured role on the right.

He can even play through the middle with former Real boss, Carlo Ancelotti, suggesting he is a “special striker, he can play in all positions.”

It’s on the left where you sense Rodrygo would find the most joy, potentially replacing Diaz. While he still scored 14 times last term, registering 11 assists, his best campaign in a Madrid shirt came during 2022/23 when he played on a mixture of sides.

During that term, he netted 19 times and also provided 11 assists, showcasing his credentials as an elite wide player.

Blessed with incredible dribbling ability, whether it be Isak, whether it be Ekitike, they would love playing alongside Rodrygo. Here’s why.

Shot-creating actions

4.56

Top 3%

Progressive passes

4.69

Top 2%

Progressive carries

5.07

Top 2%

Succesful take-ons

2.15

Top 2%

Key passes

2.09

Top 3%

Analysing the data above, Rodrygo is the definition of a livewire. He takes players on with great regularity, he can pick a pass out and he’s incredibly progressive.

That is a dream for any striker, not least Isak, one of the best centre-forwards in the global game.

It’s safe to say the Swede is hot property this summer and it’s no surprise to see why. He bagged 27 goals in 42 outings during 2024/25, 23 of which came in the Premier League. That made him the division’s second-highest goalscorer, only behind Mo Salah.

Now, while Isak certainly didn’t receive bad service from the likes of Anthony Gordon and Jacob Murphy last term, they aren’t Rodrygo. He’s one of the best dribblers, one of the most progressive players in Europe; Isak would thrive alongside him. Whether Liverpool can make it happen, however, is another debate.

He's better than Ekitike: Liverpool chasing "monster" £60m Isak alternative

Liverpool are looking to sign a new number nine in the summer transfer window.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 15, 2025

West Ham United could sell Mohammed Kudus this summer and are already making strides in the hunt for his replacement.

West Ham and Mohammed Kudus could go their seperate ways

The Hammers expect plenty of movement in both directions over the next few months and could be set to part ways with one of their best players if reports are to be believed.

Recently, Chelsea have made contact over a potential move for Kudus, and he is also said to be on the radar of Premier League rivals Manchester United and Newcastle United.

Intriguingly, the Ghana international has a release clause of £85 million that is open to top-flight clubs in England across the first ten days of July. However, it remains to be seen whether a saga involving the former Ajax man will develop at the London Stadium.

In the case of Newcastle, former scout Mick Brown believes they would try and land Kudus at a fee below his exit clause due to the premium involved in a prospective transfer.

“At £85million or whatever his release clause is, there’s no way Newcastle would do that deal. They’ll consider it if they can cut down that price tag, but they’re not sure about him. They’ve got other targets as well, so I think they’re more likely to go for them before Kudus.”

West Ham now racing to sign 24 G/A midfielder who's "out of this world"

The Hammers are now in a straight shoot-out with a rival Premier League club for the signature of a goal-scoring midfielder.

ByDominic Lund Jun 3, 2025

If Kudus were to depart, the Hammers would need to act decisively on the market to secure an appropriate replacement, and they could well now be closing in on a smart acquisition if that turn of events were to occur.

West Ham 'well positioned' to sign Nicolas Gonzalez

According to journalist Sebastien Vidal, West Ham are ‘well positioned’ to sign Juventus winger Nicolas Gonzalez and the Argentina international is likely to be on the move for £22 million this summer.

Seen as an ideal replacement for Kudus, the 23-year-old registered five goals and four assists in 36 appearances across all competitions last season. While he was not part of his country’s World Cup winning squad he is highly decorated at international level, winning two Copa Americas.

Capable of playing on either flank, as an attacking midfielder or through the middle, he is a versatile presence that could help to allieviate the burden on the likes of Jarrod Bowen when it comes to chance creation.

Nevertheless, it remains to be seen whether Kudus will need to leave first in order for a move to go through or if the finance would be available already in terms of being able to meet both his transfer fee and wages.

Either way, West Ham appear to be stepping up their hunt for attacking reinforcements and there will be plenty of excitement in East London if this one materialises.

Southampton are now plotting a move for a “really exciting” midfielder, who could jump at a move to St. Mary’s this summer, according to a report.

Still looking to build promotion-winning squad

In his first season as Saints manager, Will Still’s aim will undoubtedly be to return to the Premier League at the first opportunity, and Tony Pulis has insisted that nothing but an immediate return to the top flight will be deemed good enough next season.

Pulis said: “He will have the opportunity and the chance to definitely be successful in his first year and success there is promotion, nothing less than promotion.”

As such, Still has set out to build a promotion-winning squad, with Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg revealing the negotiations over a deal for FC Köln striker Damion Downs are now at an advanced stage, as the centre-forward has emerged as a top target for the Championship promotion-hopefuls.

Having a reliable goalscorer is, of course, a major factor in any side’s success, but it is equally important to have players capable of creating chances, and Still’s side have now set their sights on a new midfielder.

That is according to a report from Football League World, which states Southampton are now plotting a move for RB Salzburg maestro Bobby Clark, who joined the Austrian side from Liverpool for a fee of £10m last summer.

However, the move to Austria hasn’t panned out how Clark would’ve hoped, having recently been left out of the squad for the Club World Cup, meaning he could jump at the opportunity to move to St. Mary’s this summer.

Speaking about why the midfielder was left out of the squad entirely, RB Salzburg manager Thomas Letsch said: “I decided on other players. I wasn’t satisfied with Bobby’s training week and therefore told him he wasn’t in the squad.”

"Really exciting" Clark could reignite his career at St. Mary's

There may be some concerns over the fact the 20-year-old hasn’t been training well at Salzburg, but there are signs he could reignite his career at St. Mary’s, having previously displayed some promising signs at some of England’s top clubs.

During his time as a Newcastle United youth player, the starlet was lauded by reporter Lee Ryder, who said: “Bobby was Newcastle’s most promising youngster. He is a really exciting player with bags of skill and talent.”

Same agent as Downes: Southampton in "advanced" deal talks for "top" star

Southampton are now moving closer to signing a new striker this summer.

ByBrett Worthington Jun 30, 2025

The Newcastle-born starlet then decided to move to Liverpool, where he went on to put in some impressive performances at youth level, despite never quite making the grade as a first-team player, picking up 11 goal contributions in 37 games for the U21 side.

At this stage of his career, a move to a promotion-chasing Championship side could be ideal for Clark, and his exploits at youth level indicate that he could be a solid signing for Southampton, capable of setting up chances for Downs.

Manchester United’s front line has often contained some top-level talents that have gone on to achieve huge things across many different leagues all across Europe.

Cristiano Ronaldo joined the Red Devils back as a teenager in 2003, with no one anticipating the rise he would have during his time as a player at Old Trafford.

The Portuguese international made 270 appearances in his first stint as a Red Devil, scoring 109 times – winning various major honours, including the Ballon d’Or back in 2008.

Other players have starred alongside the iconic forward, with Wayne Rooney often partnering him in forward areas, still holding the record for the most goals scored by a player in the club’s history.

However, fast-forward to 2025, boss Ruben Amorim doesn’t have that calibre of player to rely on, needing to make the right calls over the summer to hand him with the tools needed for Premier League success.

The latest on United’s hunt for new attackers this summer

After a deal to sign Matheus Cunha was confirmed, United have been working tirelessly to secure a deal for Brentford winger Bryan Mbeumo, as the manager looks to add depth and quality in the final third.

It was reported that the 25-year-old wanted a move to Old Trafford this summer, but could be in doubt now after Thomas Frank opened talks with the winger after taking the reins at Tottenham Hotspur.

However, other targets have emerged on their shortlist in recent days, with Viktor Gyokeres once again becoming a man in demand, according to GIVEMESPORT.

They claim that Jason Wilcox has been in constant talks with his representatives over a move to United this summer, calling every day to ensure he’s still keen on a move to the club.

It also states that the Swedish international’s situation with the Portuguese outfit has become tense, with the hierarchy wanting a fee close to his release clause of £84m to sell him this summer.

Why Gyokeres would be a better signing than Ekitike

Given the need for a new striker at United this summer, it has seen countless players already being touted with a move to join the club to improve the current situation.

Gyokeres is just one of many, with Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitiké the latest player in their sights ahead of the window reopening on June 16th.

The Frenchman has also been of interest from Liverpool and Chelsea this summer, with a three-way battle seemingly appearing over a move for the 22-year-old.

His tally of 22 goals across all competitions this campaign certainly makes him an attractive option, but the club should look to steer clear and focus on a move for Gyokeres during the off-season.

The Swede, who’s been labelled a “monster” by analyst Ben Mattinson, has massively outscored the French star, whilst also registering a hugely better shot on target accuracy rate – demonstrating his edge within the final third.

Games played

33

33

Goals & assists

46

23

Shot-on-target accuracy

52%

38%

Key passes

1.9

1.5

Take-ons completed

46%

43%

Carries into opposition box

3.1

1.8

Aerials won

51%

46%

He’s also managed to complete more key passes per 90 and complete more carries into the penalty area per game – having the tools to provide his teammates at Old Trafford with added opportunities in front of goal.

The 27-year-old has also dominated aerially in 2024/25, handing Amorim the focal point he’s craved after taking the reins at United back in November.

Given the difference in the figures between the pair this season, it’s evident that the Sporting talisman would be the better option this window, with the hierarchy needing to continue with their persistence to land his signature.

It would be a hefty investment, showcasing the board’s ambitions for Amorim’s tenure, with the Red Devils on their way to building an impressive frontline that could transform their fortunes on the pitch in 2025/26.

He'd be amazing with Ekitike: Man Utd "optimistic" of sealing deal for star

Manchester United appear to be edging closer to completing a deal for one top-level talent.

ByEthan Lamb Jun 13, 2025

West Bromwich Albion are now considering a move for a “ruthless” striker on a free transfer as Ryan Mason’s first summer signing, according to a recent report.

Mason can't wait to get started as Baggies boss

On Monday the Baggies confirmed the news that Ryan Mason has become their new head coach, signing a three-year contract after leaving Tottenham Hotspur. This will be the 33-year-old’s first permanent managerial role, as he took two interim spells at Spurs as manager but mainly worked as a first-team coach under Antonio Conte and Ange Postecoglou.

After putting pen to paper on becoming West Brom’s new head coach, Mason revealed he is “thrilled” at being given this opportunity and that it is a job he is “excited” about, as the club has a fantastic infrastructure.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to have been appointed Head Coach of West Bromwich Albion. This is a huge club with a fantastic infrastructure and an incredible fan base, and I am excited about what we can achieve together.

“Having spoken at length to the board and those at the club, I am convinced that Albion is the perfect place for me to be, and I can’t wait to get started.

West Brom targeting "fantastic" EFL ace who could be Mason's first signing

The Baggies are set to hold talks with Ryan Mason.

ByTom Cunningham May 29, 2025

“I will bring with me a huge amount of enthusiasm, dedication and ambition and look forward to a positive future together at such a fantastic club.”

West Brom considering move to sign "ruthless" ace for £0

As Mason gets his feet under the table at the Hawthorns, he is wasting no time in trying to strengthen his new team. According to The Scottish Sun, West Brom are weighing up a move to sign striker Lawrence Shankland.

The Scotland international is out of contract at the end of this month, and he is said to be weighing up his options as Hearts continue to discuss a potential new deal with the forward. That is because while Hearts struggled in the league during the 2024/25 season, the 29-year-old continued to be a threat in front of goal, netting nine times in all competitions, as well as providing 11 assists.

Hearts are hopeful they can keep hold of Shankland, but they are not the only team working on agreeing to a contract with the player. West Brom hold a real long-standing interest in the Scot, who has netted 53 goals in 138 Premiership games, and are hoping his position as a soon-to-be free agent will clear the path for a relatively straightforward deal.

Apps

32

Starts

29

Goals

8

Goals per game

0.3

Big chances missed

11

Chance conversion

9%

Assists

8

Big chances created

14

Key passes per game

1.3

Dubbed “ruthless” by Chris Sutton, West Brom have made contact with the player’s agent to gauge his interest in a move to the Hawthorns. The Baggies are not alone in their pursuit, as Southampton are also monitoring and ready to pounce.

Manchester City could now sign a £100m attacker in a swap deal, with Matheus Nunes potentially set to be sent in the opposite direction, according to a report.

City eyeing new attackers amid Grealish uncertainty

It was another season to forget for Jack Grealish on a personal level, with the winger picking up just two goal contributions across the entire Premier League season, before being left out of the squad for the trip to Craven Cottage on the final day.

There have been widespread suggestions that Grealish could move on this summer, with Manchester United even emerging as shock contenders for the Englishman, but Pep Guardiola has made it clear the decision not to select him against Fulham wasn’t personal.

That said, having fallen short of expectations last season, Guardiola is planning to rebuild his squad this summer, and City have been linked with moves for a range of different attackers, whose arrivals could spell the end for Grealish.

Player

Current club

Potential cost

Ethan Nwaneri

Arsenal

£84m

Hugo Ekitike

Eintracht Frankfurt

£85m

Francisco Trincao

Sporting CP

£34m

Rodrygo

Real Madrid

£85m

Morgan Gibbs-White

Nottingham Forest

£100m

There has now been a new update on Man City’s pursuit of Gibbs-White, with a report from The Sun revealing they could sign the attacking midfielder in a stunning swap deal, with Nunes potentially heading in the opposite direction to bring down the £100m price tag.

Forest boss Nuno is a big fan of the Portuguese midfielder, with the Blues now prepared to sell the 26-year-old for £35m, should he not be used as a bargaining chip in a deal for the Forest midfielder.

Guardiola admires "exceptional" Gibbs-White

It is no surprise that City are now interested in signing the England international, given that he has received high praise from Guardiola this season, with the 54-year-old describing the Forest star as an “exceptional” player.

Although Forest were ultimately pipped to the Champions League spots, they can still be proud of qualifying for the Europa Conference League, and the 25-year-old was one of the players integral to their success, picking up seven goals and ten assists.

Romano: Man City now prioritising summer move to sign "excellent" defender

He would be an instant upgrade.

ByTom Cunningham May 24, 2025

The idea of getting Nunes off the books may also appeal to Guardiola, considering the City boss has been critical of the Portugal international at times as of late, saying: “He can become a good right-back for the physicality. I think he’s not a player to play in the middle because he’s not clever enough, in composure.”

Having secured Champions League football, a move to Man City is likely to be of great appeal to Gibbs-White this summer, and using Nunes as part of a swap deal could work for all parties.

Celtic ended the 2024/25 Scottish Premiership campaign with a 1-1 draw against St Mirren at Parkhead, having already clinched the title at the end of last month.

Jonah Ayunga’s goal gave the away side a shock lead at the start of the second half, but James Forrest stepped up in stoppage time to score a league goal for the Hoops for the 16th consecutive season – an extraordinary achievement.

As you can see in the clip above, central defender Liam Scales failed to get good distance on his headed clearance, which teed up Ayunga to rifle the ball into the back of the net.

Liam Scales' performance against St Mirren in numbers

The left-footed defender came into the side to replace Auston Trusty next to Cameron Carter-Vickers, with a chance to catch the eye ahead of the cup final.

Whilst he may not be happy with the goal that Celtic conceded and his part in it, Scales did a lot of good work in the match to keep the away side at bay.

The central defender ended the 90 minutes with eight clearances, four interceptions, and eight duels won, including seven out of 11 aerial battles won, which shows that he made a number of key defensive interventions.

Chalkboard

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

Meanwhile, central midfielder Paulo Bernardo was even worse than Scales and should be dropped by Brendan Rodgers for the SFA Cup final clash with Aberdeen next weekend.

Why Paulo Bernardo should be dropped

The Portuguese midfielder was given another chance to impress in the middle of the park ahead of the cup final, as Reo Hatate has been ruled out through injury.

There is a vacancy in the midfield next to Callum McGregor and Arne Engels, due to the Japanese star’s absence, and it should be Luke McCowan who is given the nod, not Bernardo.

In the clash with St Mirren, the former Benfica starlet lost 67% (4/6) of his duels and failed to create a single chance for his teammates in 54 minutes on the pitch.

This shows that he struggled in and out of possession for the Hoops and was even worse than Scales, who at least made numerous defensive interventions and completed 94% of his attempted passes.

Key passes

6

1

Big chances created

1

0

Assists

2

0

Shots

4

6

Goals

1

0

Duels won

4/9

7/12

Tackles + interceptions

4

6

As you can see in the table above, in the two matches since Hatate suffered his knee injury, McCowan has provided far more quality in possession from a midfield position in comparison to Bernardo.

These statistics suggest that the former Dundee man is more likely to make a big impact from the start at Hampden Park against Aberdeen next weekend, given his recent form in front of goal.

Therefore, Rodgers must take Bernardo out of the starting XI to bring the Scottish dynamo back into the side when the team takes to the field with the ambition of winning the treble.

Rodgers can sign Jota 2.0 in Celtic move for star who could be worth £30m

Celtic could find their next version of Jota by swooping to sign this star this summer.

1 ByDan Emery May 17, 2025

Liverpool have a huge window ahead of them this summer to build on the superb work conducted by Arne Slot during his first season in charge at Anfield.

The Dutchman claimed the Premier League title at the first time of asking, doing so with four games to spare – highlighting the excellent work he’s overseen in recent months.

However, many teams in England’s top flight are likely to bolster their ranks during the off-season to mount a charge to knock them off the perch they’ve found themselves on.

Such actions will mean that the Reds will also have to strengthen to avoid being caught and left behind by their rivals, increasing their chances of retaining their title.

It’s pivotal that Slot and the hierarchy need to bring in the right players if they are to succeed once again in 2024/25, with work already being done to land key targets.

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

Various areas of the pitch appear to be in focus ahead of the summer window for Liverpool, but none more so than the attacking department, with countless names mentioned for a switch to Merseyside.

Benjamin Sesko, Victor Osimhen and Liam Delap have all been touted with a switch to join the club, as Slot looks to land a new talisman to provide the goods in the final third.

However, in an attempt to aid any one of the aforementioned stars in their attempts at the club, they’ve also entered the race to land Lyon star Rayan Cherki, according to French outlet L’Equipe.

The report claims that the Reds are keen on a move for the 21-year-old star, who’s registered a staggering 32 combined goals and assists in his 44 appearances across all competitions.

It also states that the French side would be willing to part ways with the forward for a fee in the region of £34m this summer, with the youngster keen on a move to the Premier League ahead of 2025/26.

Why Liverpool’s £34m target is the dream Wirtz alternative

Bayer Leverkusen’s attacking midfielder, Florian Wirtz, has emerged as a key target for Liverpool over the last couple of days, with a move to Anfield on the cards this summer.

It emerged that the German and his representatives travelled to Merseyside for talks with the club over a potential move to the club, but also face competition from Bayern Munich.

However, given his record of 30 combined goals and assists this season, it’s likely the 22-year-old could command a fee that would break their record transfer, currently standing at £85m for Darwin Núñez.

His tally represents that it would be a worthwhile deal, providing another level of creativity to the already impressive front line that fired the club to the title.

However, given the difference in fee, the hierarchy would be better off pursuing a move for Cherki, with the French star a much cheaper investment, subsequently allowing for further signings elsewhere.

It may seem like a cost-effective solution, but when comparing the pair’s respective figures from the current campaign, the Lyon talent has managed to match or better him in numerous key areas.

Cherki, who’s been labelled “generational” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has registered more progressive passes and more passes into the final third – showcasing his creative nature with the ball at his feet.

Games played

30

31

Goals & assists

19

22

Progressive passes

9.1

6.7

Pass accuracy

79%

78%

Passes into final third

4.3

3.6

Shot-creating actions

6.4

5.6

Take-on success

51%

49%

Aerials won

33%

20%

He’s also produced more shot-creating actions per 90, along with more take-ons completed, having the ability to produce chances for himself but also his teammates.

The youngster’s talents don’t stop there, winning more aerial battles, and registering a higher shot-on-target rate – handing the Reds an all-round threat within attacking areas.

Given the potential difference in transfer fee, the club should look to pursue a move for the Lyon star, having just as much, if not more, of an effect than Wirtz in attacking areas.

At just 21, he has the potential to explode into life on Merseyside, potentially being a bargain and a player to star under Slot for many years to come – handing them a boost in their ambitions of further success.

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