The perfect night for Manchester City.

On Tuesday, the Citizens swatted aside Bournemouth 3-1 at the Etihad, meaning they require just a point at Craven Cottage on the final day to secure a 15th successive season of Champions League football.

Well, given that the Sky Blues have won each of their last 17 meetings with Fulham, a sequence that dates back to 2011, one would imagine that they’ll get the job done on the banks of the River Thames on Sunday.

Not only that, Rodri made his long-awaited return, introduced as a late substitute 240 days after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament rupture against Arsenal in September.

Rodri Pep Guardiola Manchester City

Meantime, after the match, the Man City faithful paid tribute to Kevin De Bruyne, given that this was his last-ever appearance at the Etihad, widely considered to be the club’s greatest-ever player.

Looking ahead to the future, one player in particular impressed on the evening, giving Pep Guardiola food for thought going forward into the Club World Cup and next season.

How Manchester City swatted Bournemouth aside

Man City’s victory over Bournemouth was never really in doubt from the 14th minute onwards when Omar Marmoush’s absolute thunderbolt broke the deadlock, thwacking the post on its way in, giving Kepa Arrizabalaga no chance whatsoever.

This was the best genre of goal; one where those in attendance are gasping with disbelief at what they’ve just witnessed each time the strike is replayed to them on the jumbotron.

Bernardo Silva lashed home a second on the cusp of half time, before the Cherries were presented with a glimmer of hope, with Mateo Kovačić sent off for a last-man foul on Evanilson.

Nevertheless, just six minutes later, Lewis Cook was also dismissed by referee Thomas Bramall for a knee-high tackle, extinguishing any hope of a comeback, before Nico González rubber-stamped the victory, scoring his first goal in the Premier League.

Daniel Jebbison did get Bournemouth on the board right at the death, very much of the consolation variety, and this did nothing to dampen the mood, with the Man City support in good voice and good spirits, and full credit to them, just three days after defeat in the FA Cup Final.

With a Champions League spot now all but secured, planning can well and truly start for next season, so has one player in particular staked a claim to be a central pillar in Guardiola’s future plans?

Man City star showed they can forget Wirtz

As was widely reported on Monday, including by Rob Dawson of ESPN, Manchester City have withdrawn their interest in Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz due to the amount of money the deal would cost in terms of both transfer fee and wages.

Paul Hirst and Paul Joyce of the Times claim that die Werkself valued the 22-year-old at £126m, with Bayern Munich currently his most-likely destination, although Liverpool and Real Madrid remain interested.

For Man City, they won’t be getting their hands on Wirtz, but they did sign another Bundesliga superstar back in January that may help mitigate this blow.

Marmoush’s strike against Bournemouth, which we’ve already mentioned, was breathtaking, continuing his rich goal-scoring form since arriving from Eintracht Frankfurt for a reported fee of £63m earlier this year.

Omar Marmoush Manchester City

His sublime performance on Tuesday evening showed the Egyptian at his best.

Marmoush is both a creator and a goal-scorer, taking his tally to eight in Manchester City colours, these coming in just 21 appearances to date, with all seven of his Premier League strikes coming at the Etihad, most notably bagging a hat-trick against Newcastle in February.

Omar Marmoush statistics vs Bournemouth

Statistics

Marmoush

Match rank

Goals

1

=1st

Shots on target

1

=1st

Shots of target

1

=3rd

Shots blocked

1

=1st

Passing accuracy

93%

6th

Key passes

1

=4th

Sofascore rating

7.3

=3rd

All statistics courtesy of SofaScore

This is on top of the 20 goals he managed for Frankfurt before making the move, with only five players scoring more Bundesliga goals than him this season, namely Harry Kane, Serhou Guirassy, Patrik Schick, Jonathan Burkardt, Tim Kleindienst, despite his winter departure.

Analyst Ben Mattinson described Marmoush as a “proper maverick”, while Sultan Babajide of Breaking the Lines documents how he is a ‘versatile player’ who is ‘capable of being important in every phase of play’, praising his ‘technical skills, tactical understanding, and strong work ethic’.

Meantime, Karim El-Shesheiny of Total Football Analysis outlines how the Egyptian can be deployed in many ‘different positions’ across the forward line, adding that he is more ‘dynamic’ than most other forwards, while also ‘good at defending’ out of possession.

So, what is clear is that Marmoush is a very well-rounded attacker, both capable of creating chances, but also scoring them himself from all distances.

Thus, while many of Europe’s biggest clubs are searching for a new striker, Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Juventus and many more, Man City managed to snap one up, even though they already have Erling Haaland in their ranks of course, a duo most teams around the world will be envious of.

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Going in search of their next Tom Rogic, Celtic now reportedly have concrete interest in signing an attacking addition who’s valued at just £1.5m ahead of this summer’s transfer window.

Next Rogic could be key for Rodgers

During his time at the club, Rogic more than played his part to continue Celtic’s Scottish dominance and ensure that Brendan Rodgers’ first spell ended with a place in the history books. Now, in his second stint in charge, it’s clear just how much of an impact a player in a similar mould would have on the current Celtic side.

Appearances

272

Goals

46

Assists

51

Scottish Premiership titles

7

Scottish Cups

5

Scottish League Cups

5

A player who made his mark going forward in key moments, Rogic’s best work came when working under Rodgers, who was full of praise for the Australian during his time in Scotland.

The Celtic boss told reporters when Rogic returned from a spell on the sidelines in 2017: “He’s back in the squad. The magic man is back – what a player. He’s an amazing player. I think he can grow into one of the top midfield players in Europe.

“You saw him grow in the Champions League. You saw him against Manchester City and just purr at his quality. There was a big disappointment when he got injured because the week building up to it he was amazing. Top players know where there is space and he’s as good as any I’ve seen at finding space.”

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Eight years on, Rogic is now retired and Rodgers is searching for his next arrivals at Celtic amid reports that the Bhoys have now set their sights on signing a 23-year-old star who has already been compared to the Australian.

Celtic interested in "Rogic-esque" Fallenius

According to Fotboll Direkt in Sweden, Celtic now have a concrete interest in signing Oskar Fallenius from Djurgarden this summer afetr sending scouts to watch him in aciton.

The winger reportedly cost the Swedish club just £1.5m in 2023, but that price is only likely to increase if they decide to sell their emerging star in the coming months.

Celtic’s interest should come as no shock. As detailed by Celtic Down Under’s – a Celtic fan channel in Australia – and X account UnDiluted, Fallenius is a potential “Rogic-esque” fit on the Bhoys’ radar.

The podcaster reiterated that whilst the Swede is not a like-for-like clone of Rogic, he does share some similar traits. The Australian’s greatest strengths came in his close control, powerful striking ability and creative vision. In comparison, Fallenius is similarly physical – standing at 5’11 and reportedly has a reputation for his skill and movement.

With that said and Celtic’s interest reportedly concrete, Fallenius looks set to be one to watch in the coming months.

It feels as if this summer is make-or-break for Ruben Amorim’s long-term future at Manchester United.

Amorim’s stint in charge to date hasn’t gone to plan whatsoever, with 17 wins and 17 defeats coming his way from 42 contests, culminating in the Red Devils having to stomach a shambolic 15th final place finish in the Premier League.

Therefore, the recruitment in and out of Old Trafford this chaotic transfer window has to be spot on, with the underperformers nearly nailing down the signature of Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Matheus Cunha to offer up at least one ray of much-needed positivity.

Unfortunately, that excitement has been short-lived as modern-day United great Bruno Fernandes now reportedly edges closer to the exit door. But his departure could be softened immediately by one bold replacement entering the Theatre of Dreams.

Man Utd lining up Fernandes replacement

The graphic above gives you just a flavour as to why the Portuguese ace leaving would be a disaster, with the 30-year-old just fresh off a combined 19 goals and assists in Premier League action, despite United sinking to 15th spot.

Transfer Focus

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But, Amorim and Co. would surely bounce back from Fernandes’ exit swiftly if they were successful in landing Sporting star Pedro Goncalves, with a new report from Portuguese outlet A Bola – via Sport Witness – indicating that he is being lined up as a like-for-like replacement.

The suggestion is that the Red Devils are ‘considering making an offer’ for the 26-year-old, with any move likely to be ramped if Fernandes departs – although it could still take place regardless.

Losing the experience United number eight to Al-Hilal for mega millions would be able to finance the deal, with the report further stating that Amorim’s ex-employers would only cash in if his €80m (£67m) release clause is met.

How Goncalves compares to Amad

Signed the exciting “creative force” – as he’s been glowingly branded by football analyst Ben Mattinson – wouldn’t be purchased to just plug the gap of Fernandes.

The former Wolves flop is also a tricky customer down the left or right flank, thus representing a potential upgrade down the channels than another of United’s bright gems in Amad Diallo.

Goncalves will be chomping at the bit to change his negative Wolves narrative if he does return to England, having already caused ripples when scoring this blinder away at Arsenal in 2023.

Amad has also had to bounce back from his own difficulties at Old Trafford, albeit while tallying up 11 goals and ten assists last season as the United ship regularly hit icebergs.

That said, the “incredible” Goncalves – as he has been praised by football talent scout Jacek Kulig – might well have the beating of the Ivorian down either channel or through the centre as a number ten when assessing his glittering career numbers in Lisbon.

Goncalves’ G/A numbers for Sporting by position

Position played

Games played

Goals scored

Assists

LW

98

28

34

RW

55

34

9

CM

36

18

12

SS

3

1

0

AM

3

1

0

Sourced by Transfermarkt

When assessing the table above, it’s clear how flexible Goncalves can be for the cause, with an amazingly high 30 goals and assists tallied up from 36 games centrally, on top of also registering a combined 105 goal contributions down either wing in the Portuguese capital.

On the flip side, Amad, who is still raw at an earlier stage in his career, has just 26 goal contributions overall when donning a Red Devils strip, meaning he might well have to forfeit some first-team action if the Bruno-like target does join the building.

Sporting Lisbon's Pedro Goncalves.

The overriding anxiety will be that Goncalves has already flopped once in England, which could result in another high-profile failure coming up on his CV.

But, Fernandes entered the English game back in 2020 with a similar hype surrounding his name, having amassed an astounding 113 goals and assists from just 137 appearances for Sporting.

Consequently, it just feels written in the stars that this deal could go down as a similarly golden hit, as Goncalves aims to be a transformative figure that guides United to better days.

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Everton are “keen” on completing the signing of a Premier League player who has been called “phenomenal” and already has a full trophy case, according to Sky Sports.

Everton eyeing shock deal for Liverpool winger

David Moyes knows the importance of the Blues nailing their summer transfer business, at a time when the club needs to kick on in their new stadium and look to become a top-half Premier League team again.

Top-quality new signings are needed, ahead of what supporters hope will be a relatively free-spending window, and Liverpool winger Ben Doak is reportedly the subject of interest from Everton. No senior player has made the move between the two rivals since back in 2002, when Abel Xavier moved from the Blues to the Reds.

Meanwhile, Burnley midfielder Josh Brownhill has been linked with a move to Everton, with the 29-year-old enjoying a magnificent season for the Clarets, inspiring them to Championship promotion and registering 24 goal contributions (18 goals and six assists).

Midfield certainly looks like an area of the pitch that the Mersysiders are focusing on, with Rangers ace Mohamed Diomande also mentioned as an option for Moyes’ men. The 23-year-old could add energy and quality in the middle of the park, as well as being a long-term acquisition.

Everton want "phenomenal" Premier League maestro

According to Sky Sports on Monday, Everton are now also “keen” on signing Brighton attacking midfielder Matt O’Riley in the summer window, amid plenty of competition for his signature.

O’Riley could be exactly the type of player the Blues need this summer, possessing guile in attacking midfield areas and creating chances for the strikers.

The 2-cap Dane had a tough first year in a Brighton shirt, with a serious pre-season injury setting him back immediately, and he ended up being limited to only 11 starts in the league.

O’Riley is a class act with a beautiful left foot, though, and he excelled during his time at Celtic, winning four Scottish Premiership titles and being lauded by Brendan Rodgers.

“He has been absolutely phenomenal really in his consistency. I think if we lacked anything as a team, it was probably that. But from an individual perspective his goal return.

“I think someone said he had scored his first goal [of last season] in January of last year. So to look at his numbers now, it’s huge testament to himself because the work he puts in, the focus he puts in every single day at training to improve and be better, that’s clearly been rewarded by his team-mates and everyone else.”

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Everton should be an interesting proposition for potential signings, considering they are in a sparkly new stadium and Moyes has improved them greatly since coming in, so the hope is that O’Riley sees them as a leading option to move to.

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has now personally spoken to a £145m star about a summer move to the Emirates Stadium, according to a report.

Gunners eyeing new winger amid Martinelli criticism

There have recently been suggestions that Gabriel Martinelli may not be at the level required to take the Gunners to the next level, with journalist Kyle Bonn implying that Mikel Arteta should look to bring in a new winger in the summer transfer window.

Those thoughts may also be echoed by club legend Thierry Henry, with the Frenchman suggesting the winger still has plenty of areas in which he needs to improve after the 2-0 victory against Manchester United earlier this season.

As we approach the summer transfer window, the north Londoners have been stepping up their pursuit of a new winger, with the likes of Nico Williams and Rodrygo believed to be of interest, while they have now made contact over a deal for a different forward.

Indeed, according to a report from Foot Mercato, Arsenal have now shortlisted AC Milan’s Rafael Leao as a summer target, with Berta speaking to the Portugal international on the phone around ten days ago.

The Gunners hold a real interest in Leao, who is considering an exit this summer after a mixed campaign at the San Siro, but he is not their priority target, and they are yet to make a final decision about whether to make a move.

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"Incredible" Leao could be expensive signing for Arsenal

According to reports from Italy, Milan could hold out for as much as £145m for the Portuguese winger, so a deal is likely to be on the expensive side, but there are clear signs he could be an upgrade on Martinelli.

The 25-year-old has averaged more non-penalty goals, assists and successful take-ons than the Arsenal winger over the past year, during which time he has also been lauded as “incredible” by CBS’ Matteo Bonetti.

Statistic	Gabriel Martinelli	Rafael Leao
Non-penalty goals	0.29	0.34
Assists	0.14	0.26
Successful take-ons	1.48	2.84

While Milan have underperformed throughout the 2024-25 campaign, currently sitting in seventh place, the Almada-born winger has remained consistent in front of goal, picking up 12 goals and 13 assists in all competitions.

As such, should Arsenal decide to bring in a new winger this summer, Leao should be right near the top of the list of targets, but signing a new centre-forward is arguably more important, with Arteta being left very short on options at striker throughout the campaign.

Bournemouth have announced Dean Huijsen will join Real Madrid at the end of the season after the Spanish giants activated the sought-after centre-back’s £50m release clause. Liverpool, as well as other Premier League behemoths, have been beaten.

That’s the end of that one, then. Los Blancos really are the scourge of Liverpool’s side. At another point of the backline, Trent Alexander-Arnold has confirmed that he will leave his boyhood club at the end of the season, with the Santiago Bernabeu the all-but-confirmed destination for the ball-playing superstar.

Arne Slot has done an incredible thing this year, dominantly winning the league title after Jurgen Klopp stepped down last summer, especially since Federico Chiesa has been the only first-team addition, and he hasn’t even started in the top flight.

Liverpool may face more bother from Madrid in several other transfer sagas, but more on that later. For now, let’s familiarise ourselves with the vice-captain’s slated replacement, Jeremie Frimpong.

The latest on Jeremie Frimpong to Liverpool

Just as Alexander-Arnold will join Xabi Alonso and Huijsen in a new Real Madrid project, so too will Bayer Leverkusen’s Frimpong make the move to Merseyside this summer.

As per Fabrizio Romano, sporting director Richard Hughes is simply putting the finishing touches on the transfer before an official announcement is made. Such issues pertain to the pay structure of the €35m (£30m) release clause.

For it to collapse now would be a shock. Some fans might reserve judgement on the fleet-footed right-sider, whose speed and attacking quality cannot be questioned but whose defensive security is more contested, but Frimpong, 24, is a shrewd and exciting signing for the club.

Under Alonso’s wing at Leverkusen, the Netherlands international has hit 59 direct contributions from 131 appearances, so it’s no surprise the wing-back has been called a “monster in the final third” by United Stand presenter Beth Tucker.

He’s exactly what Slot needs at right-back, a contrasting profile to Conor Bradley, who will add depth and dynamism to Liverpool’s ranks. Now, FSG are ready to turn to their next top target.

Liverpool turn to new top target

Liverpool want a striker and have also registered their interest in playmaker Florian Wirtz, but according to Caught Offside, FSG have made Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez their top target now that Frimpong is on the cusp of signing.

It adds that the Reds have already held talks with the Cherries over a possible move for the Hungary international, who has been transfer-listed for a price of £45m, with the south coast side making it clear he can leave.

Arsenal, Chelsea and, of course, Real Madrid, have all been named as suitors, but Liverpool have put in the groundwork and made it clear that the 21-year-old is their first-choice pick to strengthen the left flank of Slot’s backline.

What Milos Kerkez would bring to Liverpool

Liverpool might not be signing Huijsen, but they will hope that their persistent efforts over the past several months will hold sway in closing a deal for Kerkez.

Signing the powerful and mobile defender would mean that one of Robertson or Kostas Tsimikas would need to leave, more likely the latter, but maybe it’s the right time for change.

After all, Kerkez has been described as a “machine” of a player by Sky Sports’ Izzy Christensen, who continued to say the “frightening thing is he’s not even reached his peak yet.”

As per Sofascore, Kerkez has scored two goals and laid on five assists for his teammates in the Premier League this season, starting all 36 of the Cherries’ fixtures.

Moreover, he’s kept it crisp with an 80% pass success rate, winning 60% of his ground duels and averaging 2.6 tackles and interceptions per game.

With such an athletic and energetic style, willing to drive forward into dangerous positions and provide creative support to the forwards, Kerkez could be the perfect upgrade on the 31-year-old Robertson, joining Frimpong in an elite new wide duo that could prove the perfect way to continue the Scotland captain and Trent’s legacy.

In 2022, former West Ham United boss Slaven Bilic described the pair as “the best full-backs in modern football,” with their overlapping quality, their playmaking and completeness, supercharging Klopp’s high-octane system.

Transfer Focus

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It’s hard to imagine there will ever be another pair of full-backs quite like them, with Liverpool’s midfield long characterised by a selfless industriousness that promotes creative success from out wide.

1

Trent Alexander-Arnold

64

2

Andy Robertson

60

3

Leighton Baines

53

4

Graeme Le Saux

44

5

Kieran Trippier

38

With Frimpong’s pace and potency combining with the tireless work rate of Kerkez, there’s no telling how fluid and interchangeable Liverpool’s approach could become next year as they look to defend their Premier League title.

While it would be foolish to expect them to reach the same extraordinary creative heights as their predecessors, the rising stars are talented attacking talents unto themselves, and like Robertson and Alexander-Arnold, they bring different tactical takes to the table.

Kerkez, for example, could channel the spirit of Alexander-Arnold through his distribution, ranking among the top 12% of Premier League full-backs for successful crosses into the penalty area per 90 this term, as per FBref, whereas Frimpong’s desire to burst into the final third himself can be observed through

With Mohamed Salah holding off and playing him through a chink in an opponent’s armour, this could be a masterful combination for Slot to work on this summer.

Liverpool aren’t resting on their laurels this summer. Slot is determined to make sufficient reinforcements after clinching the Premier League title in his first season in charge.

And rightly so. Arsenal, Manchester City and the rest are all going to be desperate to recolour the ribbons next term, but with signings like Frimpong and Kerkez and forward-focused additions still yet to come, there’s plenty to be excited about for those of an Anfield persuasion.

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Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s future is still up in the air, but that won’t prevent Everton from signing a new striker this summer.

After an impressive start to life at the helm, David Moyes is looking for ways to take the Toffees to the next level. It’s like he never left.

Backed by The Friedkin Group, Moyes means business. However, his efforts to sign Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap appear to have been thwarted, the English striker opting to sign for Chelsea.

He’s not the only talented forward on the market, though, and Everton may yet secure a thrilling addition.

Everton could sign Delap alternative

As reported earlier this week by German outlet BILD, Everton are among the clubs to have registered their interest in Stuttgart striker Nick Woltemade this month, though the DFB-Pokal champions are hoping to tie the 23-year-old down to a new deal.

Arsenal and Atletico Madrid are among the other contenders, so it won’t be easy for The Toffees, but Moyes will hope to convince the German that he would be making a prudent move by joining the ranks at Bramley Moore.

Stuttgart have placed a loose valuation on their towering talisman, but they could be seeking as much as €50m (£42m), should the competition remain thick over the coming weeks.

Why Everton should sign Nick Woltemade

With Delap a no-go, Everton would strike gold in signing Woltemade, with his distinctive, rounded style of play leading data-driven site FBref to record Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak as one of his most comparable players, among those in his postition across Europe’s top five leagues.

Woltemade scored 17 goals across 33 matches in all competitions this season, including every round of Stuttgart’s triumphant DFB-Pokal campaign, and has been hailed for his “sensational” finishing ability by reporter Bruno Alemany.

That 17-goal return surpasses Delap’s, the Ipswich man bagging 12 from 37 matches in the Premier League, but it’s his complete skill set which suggests Moyes should do everything he can to complete a deal.

Harking back to FBref, Woltemade is recorded to have ranked among the top 3% of centre-forwards across Europe’s top-five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 11% for passes attempted, the top 13% for progressive passes and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90.

He’s the full package, all 6 foot 6 of him. It’s definitely a peculiar profile, with Woltemade a clinical finisher, progressive passer and creative outlet, with neat footwork and clever movements.

This does bear a similarity to Isak, who has been hailed as “the complete striker” by Newcastle legend Alan Shearer.

Matches (starts)

34 (34)

28 (17)

Goals

23

12

Assists

6

2

Shots (on target)*

2.9 (1.4)

1.8 (0.9)

Big chances missed

18

11

Accurate passes*

14.9 (77%)

12.3 (72%)

Big chances created

11

8

Key passes*

1.1

1.3

Dribbles*

1.2

1.1

Duels won*

2.8

4.4

The Sweden striker scored 27 goals from 42 appearances this season, but he also dazzled with his silky running and nimble shimmies from left to right, left to right.

He’s of course operating at a higher level than Woltemade, but the template is there and Everton could offer the grounded pathway to achieve his goals.

The problem, as ever, is that Woltemade is a talented striker with a good track record, and thus bagging him will be no easy feat. But if Everton can sign such a unique profile, physical and imposing and technical and dynamic, it could revolutionise the club’s frontline.

With similarities to Newcastle’s Isak, throwing the kitchen sink at a deal is surely a no-brainer.

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Leeds United chiefs 49ers Enterprises have now been told it will cost just £10 million to sign an “unbelievable” English midfielder this summer.

Lukas Nmecha kicks off Leeds' summer business

The transfer window has now officially reopened after closing for a week, and the Whites haven’t wasted any time in getting a signing over the line. On Sunday afternoon, Leeds announced that Lukas Nmecha has agreed to join the club and become their first new face of the summer transfer window.

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The Germany international has joined the Yorkshire side on an initial two-year deal and will arrive on the 1st of July, once his contract has expired at Wolfsburg. Nmecha is already known to English football, having developed in Manchester City’s academy as well as having spells at Preston and Middlesbrough.

Nmecha told Leeds’s media team: “It’s just a great challenge, and I’m really excited to get to know the team. I’ve spoken with the manager many times, and I’m excited to play that style of football that they played in the Championship, even in the Premier League. I saw that there was dominance last season in terms of possession and the goals. I’m an attacking player, so obviously that’s exciting for me.

“Of course, in the Premier League, there are some big boys in there where you can’t play like that all the time, but I think the idea of the manager is to play good football, possession football, and that’s what I’m used to and what I love doing.

“I wish we could get going now, but we still have a few weeks of pre-pre-season, getting the runs in and all that! But I just can’t wait to start training now.”

Leeds told it will cost £10m to sign Champions League midfielder

With Nmecha now officially through the door, the 49ers are turning their attentions to Newcastle midfielder Sean Longstaff, and according to Football Insider, suitors have been told a bid of just £10 million will be accepted this summer.

It was reported in May that Leeds were plotting a double swoop for Callum Wilson and Longstaff, who is earning £50,000 a week at Newcastle.

Entering the final year of his contract at St James’ Park, the update claims his future “definitely” lies away from Tyneside.

Daniel Farke is keen to add Premier League experience to his midfield this summer, but he won’t have a free run at Longstaff, as David Moyes’ Everton are also keen on the midfielder.

Sean Longstaff’s 24/25 Premier League stats

Apps

25

Starts

8

Key passes per game

0.2

Interceptions per game

0.3

Tackles per game

1.1

Clearances per game

0.3

Longstaff, who has been dubbed “unbelievable” by Alan Shearer in the past, has Champions League experience, helping his side qualify for Europe’s elite competition this season and making five appearances in their last European quest, scoring in a 4-1 rout of current champions PSG.

Celtic are now likely to complete the signing of an “amazing” attacking player soon, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

Attackers the order of the day for Celtic

Brendan Rodgers will know the importance of adding to his squad and making his team even more of a force next season, in order to prevent Rangers from closing the gap in the Scottish Premiership, and perhaps more excitingly for the Hoops to improve in the Champions League.

Celtic appear to be prioritising attacking signings this summer, with Benjamin Nygren strongly linked with sealing a move from Nordsjaelland to Parkhead.

Meanwhile, Evan Ferguson has emerged as an audacious transfer target for the Hoops ahead of next season, with the Brighton striker’s stock falling over the past 12 months, following a tough spell out on loan at West Ham.

That’s not to say that the Republic of Ireland international couldn’t be a fantastic acquisition for Celtic, however, with Gary Lineker calling him a “born goalscorer” and once tipping him to replace Harry Kane at Tottenham.

Now, it looks as though the Scottish champions could be edging towards another attacking signing.

O'Rourke: Celtic set to finalise deal for Balikwisha

Speaking to Football Insider, O’Rourke claimed Celtic have a good chance of signing Royal Antwerp forward Michel-Ange Balikwisha this summer.

“There’s real potential that Celtic could finally get a deal done for Balikwisha. He’s been a long-term target for them, they tried to sign him in the summer transfer window last year but an injury and failing to agree a price stopped their hopes. Their interest has never gone away, they’ve continued to keep tabs on him. He has got back to full fitness after a bad injury and finished the season strongly.

“Celtic will be in the market for a new winger and Balikwisha has remained on the radar. They’ve been given a boost in their pursuit as well, reports are suggesting in Belgium that Royal Antwerp are experiencing some financial problems. They may have to cash in on some of their players, and with the 24-year-old in the final year of his contract Celtic could land him for a bargain fee of £5million.”

Balikwisha has been linked with Celtic for some time, with talks mooted recently, and he could be a brilliant signing this summer, with the 24-year-old possessing so much quality.

Belgium Under-21s

10

1

Belgium Under-19s

3

0

Belgium Under-18s

1

0

Belgium Under-17s

5

1

Belgium Under-16s

4

1

The attacker already has 46 goal involvements in 141 appearances for Antwerp, and at international level he has been capped for Belgium across five different youth age groups, also being called “amazing” by analyst Ben Mattinson.

While primarily a left winger, Balikwisha can also shine on the opposite flank and as a striker, so Rodgers would be signing a player who can add so much depth to his attack.

Leeds United are looking to sign a “fantastic” defender as a replacement for Junior Firpo this summer, with the left-back potentially leaving the Whites, according to a report.

Firpo's time at Elland Road may be coming to an end

Firpo played an important role in Leeds’ promotion from the Championship last season, with the Dominician Republic international picking up four goals and ten assists in 32 league appearances.

However, it now looks as though the left-back’s time at Elland Road could be coming to an end, with the 28-year-old’s contract set to expire this summer, and he has been attracting interest from the likes of Lazio and soon-to-be Premier League rivals Everton.

Last week, there were reports that Daniel Farke’s side have submitted a contract offer to extend the defender’s stay in Yorkshire, but a more recent update indicates that Firpo is set to depart, with the Whites now identifying a Premier League defender as a potential replacement.

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According to a report from Football Insider, Leeds are now looking to sign Liverpool defender Kostas Tsimikas, who would go straight into Farke’s starting XI, with the Reds likely to accept a bid of around £12m – £15m for the left-back in the summer.

With Arne Slot’s side making moves to sign AFC Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez, they won’t stand in Tsimikas’ way if a suitable offer is received, potentially opening the door for a move to Elland Road.

Transfer correspondent Pete O’Rourke also offered a further update on Firpo’s future, saying: “Leeds are going to be in the market for a new left-back in this summer’s window with Junior Firpo likely to leave… [Tsimikas] could come straight into that team and improve them.”

Tsimikas could be "fantastic" Firpo replacement

The Greek defender didn’t exactly play a major role in Liverpool’s Premier League title triumph, making 18 appearances throughout the campaign, but he has impressed for the Reds in the past, having once been dubbed “fantastic” by journalist Ian Doyle.

With Leeds looking to avoid relegation from the top flight next season, it could be important to bring in players with top-level experience, and the 29-year-old fits the bill, receiving the Man of the Match award against RB Leipzig in the Champions League last October.

The Liverpool ace is also strong at winning back possession, ranking in the 95th percentile for interceptions per 90, and the 79th percentile for tackles, when compared to other full-backs over the past year.

Of course, it would be a shame to see Firpo leave, given the role the defender played in Leeds’ promotion last season, but there are plenty of signs that Tsimikas could be a solid replacement, and a fee of £15m wouldn’t break the bank.