Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has challenged his side to back up their first win of the season with consistency after a 1-0 Europa League victory over Bologna.
Villa scored their first goal at home this season after 12 minutes when John McGinn fired into the bottom right corner from outside the area. Ollie Watkins had a second-half penalty saved by Lukasz Skorupski as he failed to open his account for the campaign.
Villa goalkeeper Marco Bizot was busy in the second half as Bologna piled on the pressure and he scrambled across his goal to keep out Martin Vitik’s header in stoppage time to ensure the hosts clung on to all three points. Emery says his side now have something to build on heading into Sunday’s Premier League match with Fulham.
He told TNT Sports: “At home I felt always here, in three years since I arrived, strong and confident. Creating and building a great atmosphere with energy with the players and supporters and today I felt it again.
“Bologna played well, they demanded us a lot, but then we adapted and tried to dominate and I think we deserved the win. Today we won and it is important we have to try and keep consistent on Sunday. Different match and rival, but a lot of things tactically we have to keep on building.
“Today this win will help us to try and continue working and being positive, but each match coming is a challenge, to fight to try and prepare as best as possible, be demanding with the players. This year I am excited, positive and motivated about the Europa League, but I know how difficult it is to win.”
Watkins struggles again as Villa Park gets tense
Watkins came off the bench in the 58th minute and looked lively, but his goal drought extended to seven games with the penalty miss. Emery is confident the forward will return to form, though. He added: “He worked today like he is (confident) and this is the first step to recover confidence.
“Then he had a penalty and he created chances as well, but the most important is to recover confidence and do your tasks like he did today. Today was the first step and he did fantastic.”
Defender Ezri Konsa admits the Villa Park crowd have been “tricky” to deal with following a tough start to the season but wants to use Thursday’s win as a starting point for their season. He said:
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Mikel Arteta’s side appeared to have put their defeat to Liverpool well and truly behind them as they comfortably beat Ange Postecoglou’s Nottingham Forest 3-0.
There were brilliant performances across the pitch for the home side, with Noni Madueke continuing his form from the international break, Martin Zubimendi scoring a brace, and Viktor Gyokeres netting his third goal of the Premier League season.
While Eberechi Eze also impressed on his first start for the club, he did endure a slightly more unproductive night in the Champions League against Athletic Club.
Therefore, a slight tweak to Arteta’s side could get the best out of him.
Eze's superb showing against Forest
He may have made his official debut for Arsenal against Liverpool prior to the international break, but it was over the weekend that Arteta handed Eze his first start for the club, and boy did he repay him.
The England international was signed to bring an air of unpredictability and flair to the Gunners’ attack, and it took him all of five minutes to do just that, beating a defender and getting the crowd on their feet.
It was much of the same from that point on, as while he did not win every duel nor complete every dribble, the former Crystal Palace star was a constant threat on the left-hand side and ensured Forest couldn’t get a moment’s rest.
The Greenwich-born “magician,” as dubbed by Micah Richards, received his reward just a minute after the restart, drilling a ball across the penalty area for Gyokeres to smash into the net.
It was a truly brilliant performance from the Englishman, one that saw the Standard’s Sam Tabuteau award him an 8/10 match rating at full-time, which, based on his statistics, felt more than justified.
For example, in 79 minutes of action, he amassed a combined expected goals and assists figure of 0.50, provided one assist, completed three dribbles, took 43 touches, played one key pass, was accurate in 100% of his long balls, created one big chance, won two fouls and won 100% of his aerial duels.
It was the kind of showing that more than justifies the money Arsenal spent on him, although if Arteta wants to get even more out of him in the future after a subdued display in Europe on Tuesday, one change could be made.
The Arsenal star who can make Eze even better
The truly exciting thing for Arsenal fans is that after their summer of business, they have so many talented players in the squad who all deserve to start.
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However, Arteta could make Eze even more unplayable by dropping the in-form Riccardo Calafiori, “Arsenal’s Player of the Season so far” in the words of one content creator. Instead, Arteta must look at unleashing new signing Piero Hincapié.
The £65k-per-week international completed his loan move with an option to buy at £45m to the club on deadline day and hasn’t been able to play from the start for them yet, but as his performances in the international break showed, he’s more than match fit.
Moreover, there is one part of his game that could make him the perfect partner for Eze on that left-hand side: his ability to overlap.
The Ecuadorian “beast,” as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, might not be as gung-ho as a Jeremie Frimpong, but he is undoubtedly excellent at bombing up and down the byline, so much so in fact that respected analyst Ben Mattinson described him as “a left-sided Ben White.”
Shots Blocked
0.63
Top 1%
Touches (Def Pen)
6.86
Top 1%
Touches (Def 3rd)
27.36
Top 1%
Progressive Passing Distance
362.56
Top 2%
Passes Completed (Medium)
27.99
Top 2%
Touches (Mid 3rd)
42.26
Top 2%
Total Passing Distance
1024.66
Top 3%
Pass Completion % (Short)
94.3%
Top 3%
Live-ball Passes
64.71
Top 3%
Passes Received
56.86
Top 3%
Aerials Won
2.29
Top 3%
Passes Completed
61.85
Top 4%
Carries
46.56
Top 4%
Progressive Carrying Distance
139.59
Top 4%
Touches
81.65
Top 5%
Total Carrying Distance
234.96
Top 5%
Pass Completion %
87.8%
Top 6%
Average Shot Distance
13.10
Top 7%
Passes into Final Third
5.12
Top 8%
% of Aerials Won
63.8%
Top 8%
You can see some elements of his desire and ability to maraud up the pitch in his underlying numbers, with FBref ranking in the top 2% of full-backs in Europe’s top-five leagues for progressive passing distance, the top 4% for progressive carrying distance and overall carries, the top 8% for passes into the final third, and more, all per 90.
With all that said, you may wonder why having an overlapping full-back would help maximise Eze’s potential.
Well, simply put, while the former Palace star can play at left-wing and looked great there on Saturday, he is someone who very much prefers to move into more central areas when he gets closer to goal, which we can see from his heat map last season.
Therefore, if Hincapié starts at left-back and is the one to provide width through his overlapping runs, Eze can move closer to the middle of the pitch and do what he does best.
Ultimately, we’ve not seen it yet, but this pairing could be the one that helps Arsenal’s left-hand side become as much of a threat as their right has been in years past.
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Celtic have been busy throughout the summer transfer window as they set about trying to improve the squad that Brendan Rodgers has to work with next season.
There has been plenty of business done already, with the likes of Benjamin Nygren, Kieran Tierney, Ross Doohan, Callum Osmand, and Hayato Inamura all arriving at Parkhead.
Benjamin Nygren
However, the £1.7m that they have reportedly paid to sign Nygren is the biggest fee that has been spent, which means that they have yet to reinvest much of the reported £16.5m that Como have spent on Nicolas Kuhn.
Scottish broadcaster Hugh Keevins recently offered his thoughts on the window, writing: ‘Why don’t we just buy somebody terrific? Corporate negligence would be not re-investing the money for the betterment of the team. Celtic can’t afford to mis-manage this transfer window. They’re so good at it that if they fell out of the transfer window they’d go up.’
Last summer, Celtic made sure that they reinvested the money that they got for Matt O’Riley with a club-record deal for Arne Engels, who has turned out to be an excellent signing for the club.
Why Arne Engels has been worth the money for Celtic
The Scottish Premiership champions reportedly splashed out a club-record fee of £11m to sign the Belgium international from Bundesliga side Augsburg ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
It was a statement signing for Celtic because they were willing to spend big money to bring in a top-quality player to bolster their squad, and he proved his worth on the pitch.
Arne Engels
The 21-year-old central midfielder ended his first season in Scottish football with a haul of 10 goals and 13 assists in 52 appearances in all competitions, which shows that he provided quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals.
His £11m price tag naturally created plenty of hype around him ahead of last season, given the money involved and the prospect of his potential to deliver on the pitch, and he lived up to it.
The midfield maestro’s performances in the Champions League, as Celtic reached the play-off round, also showed that they signed a player who can perform at the very top level.
xAG
0.25
Top 7%
Assists
0.37
Top 6%
Shot-creating actions
3.11
Top 29%
Key passes
2.24
Top 6%
Percentage of dribblers tackled
71.4%
Top 9%
Tackles made
2.49
Top 28%
Passes blocked
1.12
Top 27%
As you can see in the table above, Engels stacked up well against his positional peers in several key offensive and defensive metrics, which shows that he provided an impressive box-to-box presence in the middle of the park for the Hoops.
His overall output in front of goal and his performances in the Champions League show that he lived up to the hype as a top-class performer for Celtic, which is why there may not be too many complaints about the fee paid for him at this point.
Celtic, however, may not have to spend a record transfer fee, or any transfer fee, to secure this summer’s version of their deal to bring Engels to the club.
Instead, Brendan Rodgers could land a high-profile free agent who could arrive at Parkhead with the same level of fanfare that the move to sign the Belgian whiz was met with.
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Earlier this month, CaughtOffside named the Hoops as one of a number of clubs, including Manchester United and Newcastle United, interested in a deal to sign Dominic Calvert-Lewin on a free transfer.
The former England international left Everton at the end of last month and the report claimed that he is set to demand £100k-per-week in wages, which is why it could still be an expensive deal for Celtic despite the lack of a transfer fee.
Why Calvert-Lewin could be this summer's Engels for Celtic
Snapping up the 28-year-old striker would be this summer’s Engels signing for Rodgers because it would involve committing a huge amount of money to a marquee addition, albeit in wages rather than a transfer fee.
The likes of Newcastle, who are in the Champions League, and Manchester United, one of the biggest clubs in the world, being interested in Calvert-Lewin illustrates the quality he possesses and shows why the forward would likely join Celtic to much fanfare if they were to win the race for his signature.
Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin
In the 2024/25 campaign, the experienced striker only scored three goals in 26 appearances in the Premier League for the Toffees, as he found himself on the bench behind Beto.
However, Calvert-Lewin has scored 57 goals in 279 games in the English top-flight, including a 16-goal haul in the 2020/21 season, which shows that he is a proven Premier League goalscorer who could provide huge quality in front of goal in Scottish football.
Take Adam Idah as a relevant example. The Ireland international scored one goal in 29 games for Norwich in the Premier League, yet he has plundered 21 goals in 50 outings in the Scottish Premiership.
Now imagine the kind of numbers that a proven Premier League goalscorer could put up as Celtic’s main number nine next season. It is an exciting prospect and one that could generate a lot of fanfare, should the club win the race for Calvert-Lewin.
Richarlison comparing the forward to the iconic Cristiano Ronaldo does not help to temper excitement. The Brazilian attacker once said: “He must be a nightmare to play against and he has an incredible leap on him like Cristiano Ronaldo.”
Calvert-Lewin may leap like Ronaldo but he does not appear to have the durability of the Portuguese legend, as he has suffered from too many injuries in recent seasons.
24/25
2
15
23/24
3
6
22/23
4
29
21/22
2
33
20/21
2
5
As you can see in the table above, the former England international struggled in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 campaigns in particular, but also missed 15 games last season.
This means that Celtic will have to way up the risk versus the reward in this transfer race because there is the potential for him to be a prolific, marquee, striker signing and this summer’s Engels, but there is also the risk that may not be available enough to make a significant impact.
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Given the potential upside, this is one that Rodgers should be pushing the club to get over the line if there is a realistic chance of getting it done.
While Arsenal have made their fair share of big signings in summers past, it would be fair to say the way the club has acted in recent weeks is somewhat unprecedented.
Andrea Berta and Co have already secured the services of Martin Zubimendi and Kepa Arizabalaga for a combined £65m, and on top of that, David Ornstein has confirmed that Christian Norgaard’s £15m transfer has been completed.
Furthermore, the links to Noni Madueke don’t seem to be going anywhere, and most exciting of all, it looks more like a matter of when, rather than if, the club will announce the signing of Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres.
The Swedish international could be a total game-changer for the Gunners, and interestingly, if reports are to be believed, the club could be looking to sign another dynamic attacker who’s a lot like him.
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For much of the summer, the forward who looked most likely to join Arteta’s side was Benjamin Sesko. However, since it was revealed that RB Leipzig were asking for up to €100m, which is approximately £86m, the club’s focus shifted to Gyokeres.
The pivot to the Sporting CP star has been rapid, as an agreement on personal terms has already been reached, and talks between the two clubs are progressing, with some reports claiming that the final fee will be up to £70m including add-ons.
Interestingly, the North Londoners do not seem content with just the one forward signing, though, as they are also keen on Ademola Lookman.
At least that’s according to a recent report from The Athletic, which has revealed that Arsenal have held discussions concerning the Atalanta star.
The report claims that while the Gunners are fans of the talented international, they do not want to pay the Italian side’s valuation, which some reports have claimed is as high as £55m.
It could be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Lookman’s incredible ability, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as he’s won comparisons to Gyokeres.
How Lookman compares to Gyokeres
When it comes to Lookman’s similarities with Gyokeres, the first place to start is with the statistical side of things.
Ademola Lookman for Atalanta
According to FBref, the Swedish international was the fifth most similar forward to the Nigerian ace in last season’s Champions League.
The best way to understand how they reached this conclusion is to examine some of the underlying metrics in which the pair ranked closely, which include things like goals per shot and shot on target, passing accuracy, key passes and more, all per 90.
Goals per Shot
0.18
0.18
Goals per Shot on Target
0.45
0.44
Passing Accuracy
82.2%
80.0%
Key Passes
2.64
2.50
Aerial Duels Won %
33.3%
30.8%
However, the similarities go beyond these statistics, as just like the Sporting star, albeit to a slightly lesser extent, the Atalanta star has been “one of the best forwards in Europe” in the words of journalist Oma Akatugba recently.
For example, in the 22/23 season, he racked up a brilliant haul of 23 goal involvements in 33 games, which he then followed up with an even better tally of 27 in 45 games the following year.
Then, last season, for the third consecutive campaign, the “world-class” 27-year-old, as dubbed by journalist John Bennett, continued to blow opposition teams away by producing another 27 goal involvements, this time in just 40 games.
Ultimately, whether it’s down to their underlying numbers or the sheer weight of goals and assists they produce, it’s easy to make comparisons between Lookman and Gyokeres.
Appearances
33
45
40
Minutes
1858′
2809′
2871′
Goals
15
17
20
Assists
8
10
7
Goal Involvements per Match
0.69
0.60
0.67
Minutes per Goal Involvement
80.78′
104.03′
106.33
Therefore, if Arsenal really want to supercharge their attack this summer, they should do what they can to bring in both of them.
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A “superb” Celtic player is now in talks over a move away during the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph.
The Hoops continue to push hard for new signings this summer, with Aston Villa youngster Louie Barry seen as an option to come in and bolster Brendan Rodgers’ squad.
The 22-year-old excelled on loan at Championship side Hull City last season, scoring 15 goals in just 22 starts in the league, and could be sold in a hurry as Villa look to beat the PSR deadline in England.
Girona striker Bojan Miovski has also been mentioned as an option for Celtic ahead of next season, with the 26-year-old proving himself at Aberdeen in the past, scoring an impressive 44 goals in 98 appearances for the club, and 30 in 68 Scottish Premiership matches.
Yverdon Sport midfielder Moussa Baradji is another name in the mix, being tipped to potentially have as big an impact as Victor Wanyama did during his time at Parkhead.
"Superb" Celtic player in talks over exit
According to Joseph on X, Celtic bosses are “in talks” with Braga over a deal for centre-back Gustaf Lagerbielke, with Championship clubs also said to be “interested” in him.
Meanwhile, Fabrizio Romano reports that Braga have “sent” a bid of £1.7m the Hoops’ way, with the defender “keen” on the move. If he did leave for that amount, Celtc would make a £1.3m loss, having signed him for £3m.
This does arguably feel like the right time for Lagerbielke’s Parkhead career to come to an end, even though Rodgers did hail him back in 2023 after a rare goal, praising his “superb” mentality.
“It was a great moment for him because he hasn’t been involved in squads, other guys have been in front of him. But his attitude in training in the main has been superb and he has always been ready. The irony of him being sent off and then getting the goal was great, a really nice moment for him.”
Last season, Lagebielke was loaned out to Dutch side FC Twente, with Celtic finding it hard to justify a place for him in the squad, and it doesn’t look as though the 25-year-old’s situation is going to change next term.
The Sweden international is at a point in his career where he needs to be featuring regularly at a permanent club, rather than warming the substitutes’ bench or being loaned out.
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He still has three years remaining on his current Celtic deal, so there is no reason why the Scottish champions can’t still receive a decent fee for him – more than £1.7m would be preferable – and he would surely jump at the opportunity to enjoy a fresh challenge.
Liverpool have become one of the most interesting sides to follow on the market this summer and appear primed to announce yet another signing at Anfield, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Liverpool not wasting any time on transfers
Jeremie Frimpong became Liverpool’s first signing of the window, and he has been joined by young goalkeeper Armin Pecsi from Puskas Akacemia, though more headline additions are on the way as Arne Slot gets to work.
Florian Wirtz has passed his medical on Friday ahead of a record move to the Reds from Bayer Leverkusen, and Jarell Quansah’s potential move to Germany has set the scene for the arrival of a new central defender.
Crystal Palace's MarcGuehi
Recent reports suggest Liverpool have upped their interest in Crystal Palace central defender Marc Guehi and the Eagles could be compelled to sell the England international, who only has one year left on his deal in South London.
Despite the excitement emanating out of the red half of Merseyside, Mick Brown believes the Reds could entertain selling Andy Robertson, citing the financial incentives involved in a potential switch to Atletico Madrid for the Scotland international.
He stated: “In terms of wages and transfer value, they would make the most back from letting Robertson go. If they get an acceptable offer for him, I think they’ll entertain it.”
Liverpool’s first five Premier League fixtures of the new season
Bournemouth (H)
Anfield
Newcastle United (A)
St James’ Park
Arsenal (H)
Anfield
Burnley (A)
Turf Moor
Everton (H)
Anfield
Admittedly, Liverpool’s Premier League-winning side could form a very different complexion next term. There is a feeling that the dynamic has shifted regarding transfer activity at Anfield, with Slot becoming a ruthless force in his mission to claim further silverware.
In light of this, the Reds are now close to completing another deal for a star who has been edging towards a move to the top-flight holders.
Romano: Liverpool agree deal for Milos Kerkez
According to Romano, sharing the news on Friday lunch time, Liverpool’s negotiations with Bournemouth are complete and Milos Kerkez will now undergo a medical with the Reds.
Kerkez registered two goals and six assists in 41 appearances across all competitions for the Cherries last term as they narrowly missed out on continental qualification.
The Hungarian has been praised by Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola for his improved end product since arriving in the top flight, something which marks him out as the perfect replacement for Robertson, known for bombing down the left flank and whipping in dangerous crosses.
With Robertson potentially on his way out, the 21-year-old appears to be a shrewd replacement that could go on to become a leading light in Liverpool’s side for years to come should the medical go to plan.
Aston Villa have plenty of work to do in the market under Unai Emery this summer and could now bring a familiar face to Villa Park to replace Marcus Rashford, according to a report.
Marcus Rashford staying at Aston Villa is looking unlikely
In a January transfer window where the Villans had to cope with the loss of Jhon Duran, Marcus Rashford was brought in on loan to soften the blow and certainly made an impact upon arrival from Manchester United.
Four goals and six assists in 17 appearances from the Three Lions international helped Aston Villa claim a European place. However, Gabriel Agbonlahor believes Unai Emery should look for an alternative to Rashford due to his exorbitant wages.
He stated: “The main reason why I don’t think he should come is he’s going to upset the changing room. If you’re Morgan Rodgers, you’re Watkins, you’re Konsa, you’ll say ‘Rashford’s coming in on £300,000 a week.
“Okay then, well, I want £300,000 a week. That’s what happens in changing rooms. The £40 million is not the problem, it’s the wages.”
Without putting too fine a point on it, Aston Villa are under pressure to meet PSR regulations and could sell Emiliano Martinez by the end of the month to ease the gravity of their situation.
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Salaries and transfer fees are accounted for, so any swoop for Rashford is starting to become more unlikely as the days go by, especially when you factor in Barcelona’s keen interest in the Carrington graduate.
Making a swift decision, Aston Villa look to be proactive in their search for a replacement, who is a face many from the Premier League sphere will be familiar with.
Aston Villa become contenders to sign Jadon Sancho
According to TEAMtalk, Aston Villa are now in the mix to sign Jadon Sancho from Manchester United after Chelsea opted to pay the £5 million penalty in his loan agreement to send him back to Old Trafford.
The Blues had an obligation to buy the former Borussia Dortmund man for £25 million, but he wasn’t willing to cool his £300,000 per week wage demands, and Villa have quickly joined the race in recent days as they expect Rashford to depart.
Labelled “amazing” by Ian Wright, the 25-year-old registered five goals and ten assists last term in 42 appearances, showing glimpses of the form that earned him a £73 million move to Manchester United in summer 2021.
Creating 38 chances and compeleting 45 dribbles in the Premier League, Sancho has shown he still has plenty more to give at the elite level this season and capped his mini-revival with a goal in Chelsea’s 4-1 triumph over Real Betis to claim continental glory.
If Aston Villa can fit him into their wage structure, there is every chance the London-born star could be a key player at Villa Park amid Manchester United’s desire to sell high earners.
Leeds United have plenty of time ahead of them to dip into the summer transfer window to bolster their options ahead of a season in the Premier League.
The Whites know that they will have to recruit well to avoid the drop in their first year back in the top-flight, as the last six sides to go up have come straight back down again.
One player who does not appear to be on his way to Elland Road this summer, however, is winger Manor Solomon, who spent the 2024/25 season on loan in West Yorkshire.
Journalist Graeme Bailey told The Boot Room: “I am told that Solomon still thinks he can break into the first team at Tottenham. He has gained so much confidence from his spell at Leeds and now feels fully adapted to English football. He is a very interesting option, Spurs like him and are ready to let him prove himself during pre-season.”
Solomon produced 12 goals and ten assists in the Championship this season for Leeds to help them on their way to the league title, and this update suggests that he will not be joining on a permanent basis.
The other Premier League player who was on loan at Elland Road in the 2024/25 campaign was Joe Rothwell, and the club should not be looking to bring him back.
Why Leeds should not sign Joe Rothwell
The Whites should look elsewhere in the transfer market instead of attempting to bring the English whiz back from Bournemouth, because he is not suited to the physicality of the Premier League.
Rothwell arrived in West Yorkshire to provide valuable back-up in the central midfield positions for Daniel Farke in the 2024/25 campaign, and that is exactly what he did.
Appearances
36
Starts
24
Big chances created
4
Assists
4
Key passes per game
1.7
Pass accuracy
91%
As you can see in the table above, the 30-year-old maestro offered a reliable presence with the ball at his feet, completing 91% of his attempted passes, and provided creativity with his ability to assist his teammates.
However, Leeds will need different attributes when they are battling against relegation from the Premier League next season, and that is why the club should avoid a deal to bring him back.
In the 2023/24 Premier League season, Rothwell lost 53% of his overall duels and 100% of his aerial battles for Bournemouth across 11 appearances, whilst being dribbled past six times in three starts.
This suggests that he does not possess the physical attributes required to thrive in the top-flight, hence why the Cherries opted to loan him to the second tier, and Leeds are now being linked with a star who would be a huge upgrade in that position.
Leeds pushing to sign Premier League star
According to reports in France, Leeds United have identified West Ham United central midfielder Tomas Soucek as a target for the summer transfer window.
The report suggests that the West Yorkshire outfit are now ‘pushing’ to bring the Czech international over to Elland Road to bolster the manager’s options in the middle of the park.
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It is said that there is a chance that the former Slavia Prague star leaves the Hammers this summer, and the Whites are looking to potentially take advantage of that.
Leeds have added the 30-year-old titan to their list of targets and are seemingly set to pursue a deal for the midfielder, given that they are ‘pushing’ for him.
West Ham's Tomas Soucek
The report further claims that the Championship champions are looking for experienced options to bolster their efforts to stay in the Premier League, and Soucek – who is valued at £19m by Football Transfers – is a player who fits the bill perfectly.
Why Leeds should sign Soucek as a Rothwell upgrade
The midfield star has racked up 194 appearances in the Premier League in his career with the Hammers so far, and 245 appearances for the club in all competitions.
This shows that Soucek is an experienced player who has proven that he can perform on a consistent basis at the top level in England, as shown by how long his career at the London Stadium has been, which is not the case for Rothwell.
Soucek is also a proven goalscorer in the Premier League, with a return of 36 goals in his top-flight career, whilst Rothwell – who is also 30 – has never scored at that level.
Sky Sports commentator Andy Hinchcliffe described him as the most “dangerous” player in the box in the clip above, as he scored one of his nine Premier League goals this season against Wolves in December.
Appearances
35
xG
6.85
Goals
9
Duels won per game
5.0
Duel success rate
53%
Aerial duels won per game
2.9
Aerial duel success rate
57%
As you can see in the table above, Soucek also provides a level of physicality that Rothwell would not, as he wins duels at an efficient rate and is particularly impressive in the air.
As aforementioned, Rothwell did not win a single aerial battle in the 2023/24 season for Bournemouth in the Premier League, which shows that the West Ham star would be a major upgrade on him from an aerial perspective.
Tomas Soucek scores for West Ham
Soucek would add an imposing and physical presence to the Leeds midfield, with his ability to win duels and compete in the air, whilst the Bournemouth loanee would seemingly be a brittle option in the top-flight.
Therefore, hopefully, Leeds will win the race for the Czechia international this summer as a huge upgrade on Rothwell in the middle of the park, as he is a proven Premier League performer who can offer goals and physicality.
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Whereas, the Cherries outcast has not proven himself in the top-flight and does not offer enough physically to perform week-in-week-out at that level, which is why avoiding a deal for him in order to pursue Soucek would be a great move by the Whites.
Liverpool’s search for a new striker has reportedly taken a fresh twist, with a new option now emerging who could provide Michael Edwards and FSG an alternative to Hugo Ekitike.
Liverpool linked with Hugo Ekitike move
It’s no secret that Liverpool are ready to spend big this summer, with Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Florian Wirtz already all likely on their way Anfield, but none of those will solve Arne Slot’s striker problem. Instead, to do exactly that, Edwards has reportedly set his sights on signing Eintracht Frankfurt’s Ekitike in a deal that Chelsea are also in pursuit of.
The Frenchman enjoyed an excellent season in Germany and will now reportedly cost any potential suitors as much as £84m. Whether Liverpool are ready to match that price tag is undoubtedly the big question. The Premier League champions are already preparing to spend a club-record fee to sign Wirtz whilst also splashing out on Kerkez and Frimpong. Add £84m onto that and Liverpool could find themselves spending more than ever this summer.
Minutes
2,563
1,133
Goals
15
8
Assists
8
2
Expected Goals
21.6
5.8
When looking at the numbers, it becomes clear as to why Frankfurt are demanding such a high price to sell Ekitike. That’s not to say there aren’t some concerns, though.
As impressive as the former Paris Saint-Germain was throughout the season, scoring 15 goals and creating another eight, he significantly underperformed when it comes to expected goals and Liverpool simply cannot afford to splash out on another wasteful finisher after Nunez.
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For £84m, the Reds must be investing in a clinical striker. With that said, instead of Ekitike, Liverpool could yet target a cheaper alternative this summer who has already got an Anfield goal to his name.
Liverpool considering Goncalo Ramos swoop
According to Sam McGuire for Anfield Watch, FSG and Liverpool are now considering a move to sign Goncalo Ramos from PSG this summer. The Portugal international has often been used from the bench by Luis Enrique in France and may now seek a starting place elsewhere.
Given that he’s likely to be valued at around €65m (£55m) as PSG aim to recoup what they initially paid, Ramos would also be a cheaper option than Ekitike.
Minutes
2,563
1,066
Goals
15
10
Assists
8
3
Expected Goals
21.6
13.6
Whilst Ramos has underperformed on expected goals, he has been better in that regard than Ekitike, who has underperformed by over six goals. It’s also worth noting that, despite playing the equivalent of almost 12 games in Ligue 1, the PSG forward scored 10 goals throughout the campaign.
Dubbed “prolific” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Liverpool have seen Ramos’ goalscoring prowess for themselves in the past when he netted a penalty in the Anfield leg of PSG’s Champions League win against the Reds in March, whereas he also scored at Anfield for Benfica in 2022.
When will Rangers unveil their new manager at Ibrox?
On Saturday, the Gers concluded their generally miserable campaign at Easter Road, held to a 2-2 draw, with top-scorer Cyriel Dessers and Rangers Player of the Season Nicolas Raskin on target in Edinburgh.
As Scottish Premiership runners-up, the Light Blues will start next season early with a Champions League second qualifying round tie on 22 or 23 July, currently projected to face one of Brann from Norway, Swiss side Servette or Austria Vienna.
Thus, with that first leg a mere 62 days away already, 49ers Enterprises are under pressure to appoint a new Rangers manager very quickly, so who is on their shortlist?
Rangers' new manager search
According to a report by Sky Sports News, six men are ‘under consideration’ to become the new Rangers manager.
They are: Steven Gerrard, Davide Ancelotti, Russell Martin, Rob Edwards, Danny Röhl and Gary O’Neil.
Ever since it was confirmed that his father, Carlo, will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season, becoming the new Brazil manager, it has been widely reported, including by Madrid-based outlet AS, that Davide is one of the front-runners to land the Rangers job.
Meantime, Gerrard remains one of the leading candidates too, with Mike McGrath of the Telegraph documenting how the 49ers have held a longstanding interest in bringing the Englishman back to Ibrox.
Of the six names mentioned, only Röhl is currently employed by a club, and he is ‘considering’ leaving Sheffield Wednesday, as reported by David Ornstein of the Athletic, but Rangers should not go for him, nor Gerrard nor Ancelotti, with another member of the short list making the most sense.
Who Rangers should appoint as their new manager
Rob Edwards may be a name unfamiliar to a large majority of the Rangers support, but he could be an excellent appointment.
Let’s have a look at the 42-year-old’s senior managerial career so far.
AFC Telford United
2017-18
49
20
Forest Green Rovers
2021-22
53
26
League Two title
Watford
2022
11
3
Luton Town
2022-25
104
33
Championship promotion
Edwards’ biggest career achievement to date is, without question, leading Luton Town into the Premier League which was a miraculous achievement.
The Hatters were relegated after one season in the top-flight, before Edwards departed by mutual consent back in January of this year, with the club actually going on to suffer a second successive relegation, now finding themselves in EFL League One.
Nevertheless, this should take away from Edwards’ impact at Kenilworth Road, with journalist James Cunliffe noting that he did an “outstanding” job at Luton, while Mark Ogden of ESPN praises his “ultra-positive” style of play, something that would no doubt go down well with those at Ibrox.
Meantime, Exeter City midfielder Edward Francis, who played for Edwards at youth level, praised his exceptional “man-management” and “communication skills”, adding “he always treats people well and is honest with them”.
So, Edwards is clearly a young manager on the up, which is in contrast to Gerrard.
Former Rangers manager Steven Gerrard.
The 44-year-old’s time at Aston Villa was disastrous, as documented by Gregg Evans of the Athletic, while he was then also sacked by Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq back in January following an underwhelming 18-month stint in the Middle East.
So, Gerrard’s last two managerial jobs do not suggest he is the right man for the Ibrox dugout, although he was successful during his first stint in Govan, delivering the club’s first Premiership title for a decade, historically ending Celtic’s quest for ten-in-a-row.
So, reappointing Gerrard would probably be the safe option, as he is a known quantity in Glasgow, but the 49ers should be braver and hire an up-and-coming coach with the potential to get even better, and Edwards certainly fits that bill.
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