Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst is heading towards the end of the 2021/22 campaign and in his first half a campaign in charge, he still in with a chance of bringing two pieces of silverware back to Ibrox.
The title is all but impossible to secure at this point, with the Gers six points behind their arch-rivals with three games left, but Rangers are in the semi-finals of Europe and the final of the domestic cup.
Van Bronckhorst can end his first season in charge at Ibrox with two cups to add to the trophy cabinet, and he has been able to get this far in the competitions because of some of the impressive players in his current squad.
One player who has been particularly brilliant in recent months at Rangers is central midfielder John Lundstram, who is proving that Ross Wilson played a blinder by signing him for free last summer.
Lundstram at Rangers
The 28-year-old has caught the eye in both the Premiership and the Europa League and is quickly establishing himself as one of Van Bronckhorst’s key players at Ibrox.
Former Gers full-back Maurice Ross recently lavished the Englishman with praise, saying: “Steven Davis is kind of moving out now. Surround Lundstram with good young players, and he can be the cornerstone of a team.
“Lundstram was strolling about the pitch like Graeme Souness! There’s a clip from the Rangers archives where I see Souness in an Old Firm game just turn and clip a pass out to Davie Cooper standing right on the touchline.
“I was reminded of that when Lundstram did a similar thing against Celtic, zipping one out to James Tavernier. The way Lundstram goes in with 100% commitment to tackle – bang – then goes calm. That’s a gift.”
The £22k-per-week midfielder has averaged an excellent SofaScore rating of 6.92 across 26 appearances in the Premiership. He has won 60% of his duels in the league and made 2.4 tackles and interceptions per game, whilst also completing 90% of his attempted passes.
Lundstram has also been instrumental for Rangers in the Europa League, with 12 outings – 10 from the start – and an average SofaScore rating of 6.94. The 28-year-old has been a defensive lynchpin for his side in Europe with three tackles and interceptions and 3.1 duels won per game, breaking up play in the middle of the park to cut out opposition attacks and regain possession for the Gers.
These statistics, and the high praise from Ross, highlight how impressive Lundstram has been for the Light Blues this season, illustrating why Wilson pulled off a blinding deal by bringing him to the club without paying a penny in transfer fees.
AND in other news, Forget Ramsey: GvB must land “massive signing” for Rangers, he’d be “world-class”…
Arsenal have been head and shoulders above the rest of ’em this season, but Mikel Arteta knows that the season is still young, and there are many gruelling months ahead before the Gunners might end their two-decade-long wait for the Premier League title.
Runners-up for three successive years, Arsenal have worked toward dynamising and strengthening across the park, with the likes of Martin Zubimendi, Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze all adding flavour to an outfit already refined and complete.
It’s just silverware that is missing. And while the Emirates side have all the tools to go the distance this term, they will need someone of Gabriel Magalhaes’ character and quality to have avoided a long-term injury while away on international duty with Brazil.
The latest on Gabriel's muscle injury
Gabriel has played every minute of Arsenal’s Premier League campaign this season, but with a north London clash against Tottenham Hotspur looming on the horizon, a muscular injury sustained out with his nation could put a spanner in the works there.
Gabriel pulled up mid-sprint during Brazil’s recent win over Senegal. It has since been revealed by The Athletic’s David Ornstein that there is a worry that he faces an extended spell on the sidelines, more than a month and thus out of action until the new year.
It cannot be understated how integral Gabriel has become. As per FBref, the £150k-per-week talent ranks among the top 5% of positional peers for goal involvements and the top 15% for shot-creating actions per 90. That aside, he has incredibly won 78% of his ground duels, keeping clean sheets in seven separate matches.
In Gabriel and William Saliba, Arsenal have two defenders looking to take their place among the pantheon of great Premier League centre-back partnerships, and if Arteta does lift that elusive trophy at the end of the season, he and his wider squad will be indebted to the composed and flawlessly organised duo at the back.
The likes of Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera are able replacements, but this could be a big blow, and it’s got us thinking about the 27-year-old’s long-term successor in north London.
There is one Hale End star who might just have what it takes to complete that step up in the future.
The Hale Ender who could replace Gabriel
Under Arteta’s guidance, Arsenal have a feared outfit once again. This is a team capable of tackling and overcoming any opponent across the globe, as last season’s spectacular two-legged win over Real Madrid will tell you.
But this also needs to be a lasting project, and it’s clear that there is an emphasis on this, with Bukayo Saka the talisman and exciting prospects such as Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman filtering through to the first team.
And on the other side of the field, Callan Hamill could find himself succeeding Gabriel when the time comes, with the 16-year-old having made quite the impression at Hale End since joining from St. Johnstone in Scotland this summer.
The Scotland U19 international has swiftly established himself as the captain of Arsenal’s U18 squad, racking up 11 appearances and scoring one goal.
With such impressive performances, he has even been handed a string of outings with the U21s, and during his sole effort in the Premier League 2, Hamill kept a clean sheet across 90 minutes of action.
Analyst Ben Mattinson has remarked that the teenager has “all the tools to become a quality backline leader for club and country”, and while he’s not there yet, Arteta’s decision to throw the youngster into first-team training and guide him toward the fore suggests that it’s only a matter of time before this star emulates the better-known names in front of him and cements a place under Arteta’s wing.
Who knows, given his leadership skills, strong reading of the game and dynamism, Hamill might even have what it takes to succeed Gabriel, when the fateful day of the Brazilian’s departure comes.
A new Saka: Arsenal chasing "one of the best wingers in the world" for £88m
The game-changing winger could be a Saka-like addition to Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side.
Eyebrows were raised by many across the Premier League in the summer of 2023, after Arsenal forked out an English record £105m for the signature of midfielder Declan Rice.
The 26-year-old now appears to be somewhat of a bargain two years on, with the Englishman now cementing himself as one of the world’s best in his position.
He’s already racked up 118 appearances for Mikel Arteta’s side, scoring 18 times and registering 22 assists – often being the provider for the Gunners’ remarkable set pieces.
Rice netted his latest goal for the club in Saturday’s win over Burnley at Turf Moor, once again playing an influential role in their ambitions of claiming title glory in 2025/26.
His efforts have no doubt been bolstered by the addition of one player who’s made an immediate impact during the opening months of his time at the Emirates.
The impact of Viktor Gyokeres on Declan Rice
Whilst Arsenal have made huge strides over the last few years under Arteta’s reign, they have often fallen at the final hurdle in their pursuit of Premier League glory.
Three second-place finishes in a row were enough for the board to back the Spaniard in the transfer window, splashing a fee in the region of £65m on the signature of Viktor Gyokeres.
The Swede arrived with huge expectations after netting 97 goals in 102 appearances for Sporting CP – with the centre forward already making an immediate impact in North London.
He’s netted four times in the Premier League to date, joining Rice on the scoresheet on Saturday afternoon and securing an eighth win of the league season.
The majority of his efforts have all been within the opposition’s six-yard box, showcasing the poacher instincts he possesses – something which the Gunners have greatly lacked. What that means is that it’s given the former West Ham man another player to aim for in the box from set-plays.
That was in evidence on Saturday when Rice’s inswinging delivery found Gabriel at the back post who then laid it on a plate for the Swedish striker. The same recipe was served up a matter of weeks ago too in the 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid.
It’s still early days for Gyokeres, but the signs are all positive for the talisman, potentially playing a role alongside Rice and another star if the club are to end their wait for a league title.
The impact of Martin Zubimendi on Rice
Upon his move to Arsenal, many questioned which role Rice would fill at the Emirates – the number six in front of the backline, or the number eight as a box-to-box option.
It’s transpired in recent months that the Englishman is best suited as a box-to-box option, often able to produce a moment of magic from range or make darting runs into the box.
Such a role has no doubt allowed the 26-year-old to achieve his impressive goalscoring tally, with Arteta getting it spot on by not utilising him in a deeper role.
However, it did leave a huge hole at the base of the three-man midfield, a role that has been excellently filled by Martin Zubimendi over the first few months of 2025/26.
In a saga that felt never-ending, the Gunners clinched the Spaniard’s signature from Real Sociedad during the summer, subsequently paying £55m for his services.
Like Rice, he already looks like a phenomenal addition, with the 26-year-old nailing down his place as a deep-lying option – which has allowed his teammate to reach unthinkable heights.
In the Premier League this season, he’s completed 89% of the passes he’s attempted, whilst registering an average of 59 passes per 90 – ranking him in the top 7% of all players in the league.
Games played
10
Goals & assists
2
Pass accuracy
89%
Passes completed per 90
59
Tackles won
1.9
Aerials won
62%
Interceptions made
1.2
Dribble success rate
50%
Out of possession, he’s been just as impressive, winning 1.9 tackles per 90 and coming out on top in 62% of the aerials he’s entered – subsequently offering the ball-winning presence the side has lacked.
Other tallies, such as 1.2 interceptions per 90 and a 50% dribble success rate, have seen one analyst label the midfielder as Arsenal’s “signing of the summer”.
His responsibility at the heart of the side has allowed Rice to operate in more threatening areas and achieve his impressive goal contributions – which has certainly bolstered his standing in the Premier League.
The pair have formed an excellent partnership, with the duo likely to have a huge bearing on the club’s potential title glory come the end of the season in May.
Forget Gabriel: Arsenal "monster" is now the best player in the league
Gabriel put in another titanic performance as Arsenal defeated Burnley 2-0.
Manchester City’s Champions League campaign is up and running with a victory.
On Thursday night at the Etihad, the 2023 winners beat Napoli 2-0 to commence the league phase with three points.
The key flash point of the first half was the red card shown to the visitors’ captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo, dismissed by referee Felix Zwayer for a foul on Erling Braut Håland, deemed to be the denial of a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
The match remained goalless for almost an hour, Antonio Conte’s team staying compact and defending resolutely, featuring an extraordinary goal-line clearance from Matteo Politano on the cusp of half time.
Nevertheless, in the end, Man City did find the breakthrough, with Phil Foden’s chipped through-ball picking out Håland whose looping header beat Vanja Milinković-Savić, before Jérémy Doku lashed home the clincher a mere seven minutes later.
In last season’s Champions League, Pep Guardiola’s team only managed victories against Slovan Bratislava, Sparta Prague and Club Brugge, not exactly European juggernauts, so will be pleased to have overcome the reigning Scudetto holders.
It was a record-breaking night for one Man City player, while another showed his class, on a night when a returning Sky Blue great enjoyed an inauspicious home coming.
Erling Braut Håland's record breaking night
On a Champions League night, you can almost always rely on Erling Braut Håland to score a goal.
His header to break the deadlock was his 50th in the Champions League, bagging eight for RB Salzburg, 15 in the yellow of Borussia Dortmund and now 27 for Manchester City.
This makes him, by some considerable distance, the fastest player to this landmark in the competition’s history, as indicated below.
Here’s a mind-blowing piece of information for you, courtesy of Will Jeanes of the Athletic.
On 18 September 2007, Ruud van Nistelrooy scored for Real Madrid against Werder Bremen to become the fastest player to 50 European Cup or Champions League goals, breaking Raúl’s record, doing so in his 62nd appearance in the tournament.
Well, exactly 18 years to the day later, this record is shattered by Håland, who has reached 50 goals in just 49 games, very much with his sights set on Cristiano Ronaldo’s all-time record of 140.
However, the big Norwegian centre-forward was not the only man to impress in Sky Blue.
Manchester City's new Kevin De Bruyne
All the pre-match discussion ahead of Napoli’s visit to the Etihad was about the swift homecoming of Kevin De Bruyne; whoever at UEFA headquarters decided to put this fixture on matchday one knew what they were doing!
However, the night certainly did not go how the Belgian would have dreamt it, hooked after 20 minutes through no fault of his own, simply sacrificed by Conte, replaced by left-back Mathías Olivera, following Di Lorenzo’s aforementioned red card.
During his time in Manchester, De Bruyne and Håland directly combined for 25 goals, eight more than any other player in the goal machine’s career; Marco Reus the man second on this list.
Instead of coming back to haunt the club who declined the opportunity to extend his contract, De Bruyne got to watch on like the rest of us as Foden staked a claim to be the heir to his vacant throne.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
At the weekend, the England international’s header to break the deadlock in the Manchester derby was his first Premier League goal since netting against Chelsea on 25 January, a draught of 232 days.
Then, in this match, his impudent assists teed up Håland to make the breakthrough, and the statistics below highlight how impactful he was throughout, having been handed an 8/10 match rating by the MEN.
Assists
1
1st
Accurate passes
56
8th
Shots on target
1
2nd
Key passes
8
1st
Big chances created
1
1st
Accurate crosses
11
1st
Touches
82
6th
Average SofaScore rating
7.6
5th
As the table documents, Foden was the creative hub of Manchester City’s team against Napoli, registering four more key passes than anyone else, as well as nine more accurate crosses than any other member of the Citizens’ squad.
Last season was frankly miserable for Foden, scoring just ten goals and accumulating four assists across the Premier League and Champions League, having registered 24 goals and 11 assists the season before, named PFA Players’ Player of the Year and Football Writers’ Player of the Year as a result.
Nevertheless, after scoring three times during the Club World Cup in the summer, there are further signs that Foden is getting back to his best.
Thus, he will surely be in Guardiola’s starting lineup for Sunday’s huge clash with Arsenal in North London, hoping he can live up to the departed De Bruyne’s legacy.
"Incredible…" – Micah Richards lauds Man City star for display vs Man Utd
The pundit was left impressed by one Manchester City player, who was “fantastic” on Sunday.
Glasgow Rangers head coach Russell Martin has taken plenty of criticism in the opening month of the 2025/26 campaign after a poor start to the season by his side.
The Light Blues are yet to win a match in the Scottish Premiership, drawing for the fourth time in their clash with Celtic last weekend, and failed to qualify for the league phase of the Champions League.
Martin’s team have conceded 17 goals in all competitions already this season, which is simply not good enough, but central defender John Souttar has performed admirably for the most part.
Why John Souttar is still a valuable player for Rangers
Despite all the brand-new signings brought in by the club this summer, the Scotland international remains an integral member of the squad because of his quality and experience.
The 28-year-old centre-back may not be the smoothest operator with the ball at his feet, but his dominant play physically and old-school backs-against-the-wall defending are valuable to the team.
Appearances
24
4
Sofascore ratings
7.28
7.25
Ground duel success rate
74%
60%
Aerial duel success rate
66%
55%
Ball recoveries per game
2.9
5.5
Clearances per game
6.1
3.8
Error led to goal
0
0
As you can see in the table above, Souttar has not made a single error that directly led to a goal since the start of last season in the Premiership, and has won the majority of his duels on the ground and in the air.
Such has been the impressive nature of his defensive work, the former Hearts man now looks like he is worth even more than Jack Butland, who was valued at £15m by the club last year.
Why Souttar is more valuable to Rangers than Butland
In February of last year, Football Insider reported that the Scottish giants valued the former England international at a price of up to £15m ahead of the summer window.
Jack Butland
That came as Butland had kept an eye-catching 18 clean sheets in 38 appearances in the Premiership in the 2023/24 campaign, per Transfermarkt.
Unfortunately, his form since the club valued him at £15m has dipped. In the 2024/25 season, the Englishman conceded 2.2 more goals than expected, based on xG, per FotMob, and made four errors that led to shots or goals for the opposition, per Sofascore, in the Premiership.
As you can see in the post above, Butland was also very fortunate not to have a fifth error under his belt for the season, as the referee let him off by giving a very soft foul against Motherwell.
Interim head coach Barry Ferguson even dropped him out of the side to bring Liam Kelly in as the number one at the end of the campaign, but Martin has restored his position as the number one this term.
Butland has conceded 0.71 more goals than expected across four league matches this season, per FotMob, and it remains to be seen if he can recapture the form that once saw him valued at £15m.
At this moment in time, Souttar looks worth more than him with his impressive performances in comparison to the error-prone goalkeeper, whilst the centre-back is also worth more (£3.4m) on Transfermarkt than Butland (£1.3m).
The ex-Rangers striker who has scored 5x more goals than Miovski in 2025
This former Rangers centre-forward has enjoyed a terrific 2025 so far.
ByDan Emery Sep 5, 2025
Given that Rangers did not sign a new goalkeeper to compete with the ex-Stoke star, Martin will be hoping that Butland can get back to his best and prove that he is still a very valuable asset for the Scottish giants to have at their disposal.
Far removed from the days of Sir Alex Ferguson’s hairdryer treatment or Brian Clough’s no-nonsense approach, players have all the power in modern football.
Teams who hover around the bottom half of the Premier League have felt the full force of player power since the rise of the ‘big six’, with the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Matheus Cunha and Kalvin Phillips moving within the top flight for huge fees in recent years.
Leeds United have dealt with their fair share of star players leaving for pastures new, including Ballon d’Or candidate Raphinha and academy starlet Archie Gray.
Leeds' record departures
10. Chris Wood
Burnley – £14m
9. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
Atletico Madrid – £14.5m
8. Luis Sinisterra
Bournemouth – £20m
7. Tyler Adams
Bournemouth – £23m
6. Crysencio Summerville
West Ham United – £25m
5. Rio Ferdinand
Manchester United – £30m
4. Archie Gray
Tottenham Hotspur – £40m
3. Georginio Rutter
Brighton – £40m
2. Kalvin Phillips
Manchester City – £42m
1. Raphinha
Barcelona – £50m
Despite Leeds’ status as a huge club with a rich history, some players are just destined for greater things, as Pascal Struijk revealed just how good Raphinha was right from the off at Elland Road: “I knew for sure that he would be able to play with a top team.
“You look at his goals and assists, which he did for us as well. When you go to a big team, it’s about how you react when you make a move like that and I always believed in his ability, I had no doubts.
“My first impression of him was, ‘this guy’s got quality’. Sometimes you have players and you see them on the pitch and you think, he’s got that bit extra. When you see him doing it in the Prem, the talent speaks for itself.”
The Brazilian left Yorkshire on good terms after scoring in the game that secured the Whites’ Premier League status for another year, but not everyone on the list above can say the same.
I was as good as Gerrard and Rooney at youth level, but only scored 3 goals for Leeds
Things didn’t really work out at Elland Road.
ByCharlie Smith Jun 5, 2025 Ferdinand: 'I was a nightmare to make Leeds sell me'
Rio Ferdinand was perhaps the most controversial transfer of his time, leaving Leeds to join arch-rivals Manchester United in 2002, going on to win six Premier League titles under Fergie as one of the greatest centre-backs of all time.
And while it may be of little surprise to the Elland Road faithful who have never forgiven the legendary England defender, he told talkSPORT this week that he refused to leave then-chairman Peter Ridsdale’s office, imploring Leeds not to haggle on their price.
That’s not to say Leeds were hard done by from a financial point of view however. Accounting for inflation, Ferdinand would be the second most expensive Premier League transfer of all time, coming in at around £200m in today’s terms.
Considering Southampton only received £75m for Van Dijk, widely regarded as the world’s best current centre-back, when he joined Liverpool in 2018, Ferdinand certainly cost the Red Devils a pretty penny.
However, his attitude towards his former employers only soured relations further after what was already a controversial move, taking advantage of the club’s financial difficulties as they plummeted to the third tier of English football.
There is no denying the fact that this season was a disappointment for Arsenal fans.
After coming so close to winning their first Premier League title in a generation in the prior two campaigns, there was hope, if not expectation, that Mikel Arteta would lead the team over the line this year.
However, an unfortunate mix of injuries, suspensions and lack of cutting-edge coalesced to see the Gunners finish ten points off Liverpool in first place.
Arsenal's GabrielMartinellireacts
One of the most disappointing stars for the North Londoners has been Gabriel Martinelli, who looks a shadow of that star who terrified defenders in 22/23, and based on recent reports, that could be about to see him lose his place in the team altogether this summer.
Arsenal transfer news
With Arteta’s options on the left-hand side failing to keep up with Bukayo Saka and Ethan Nwaneri on the right, it’s hardly been surprising to a host of talented left-wingers linked with Arsenal in recent weeks and months, such as Rafael Leao and Antoine Semenyo.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The former is undoubtedly one of the most exciting attackers in Europe, and his brilliant haul of 12 goals and 13 goals in 50 shows how effective he can be, although, with a release clause reportedly worth £145m, he might just be out of reach.
Semenyo, on the other hand, could cost the Gunners around £70m, and while that is still a lot of money, he has proven his ability in the Premier League and was able to rack up a tally of 13 goals and seven assists in 42 games for Bournemouth this season.
Antoine Semenyo for Bournemouth.
However, with so many other areas of the team still needing to be addressed, the North Londoners might want to spend even less than that on an exciting up-and-coming Martinelli upgrade, which could explain the links to Malick Fofana.
Yes, according to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Arsenal are one of several top-flight teams interested in signing the Lyon gem this summer.
In fact, the report has revealed that, alongside Liverpool and Aston Villa, the Gunners are leading the race for the 20-year-old star, who is valued at around £42m by the French giants.
It could be a complicated and somewhat costly transfer to get over the line, but given Fofana’s immense ability and potential, it is one well worth fighting for, especially as he’d be a great upgrade on Martinelli.
How Fofana compares to Martinelli
While Fofana has occasionally played off the right and up top in his short career, his primary and unquestionably best position is off the left.
Therefore, his biggest competition for game time at Arsenal next season – if he joins – would be Martinelli, but how do the pair stack up against one another?
Well, in terms of raw output, it’s the Lyon ace who comes out on top, as in 41 appearances, totalling 2280 minutes, he scored 11 goals and provided six assists this term, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.41 games, or every 134.11 minutes.
In contrast, the former Ituano gem scored ten goals and provided six assists in 51 appearances, totalling 3564 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 3.18 games, or every 222.75 minutes.
Okay, who comes out on top when we take a look under the hood at their underlying numbers?
Well, unfortunately for the Gunners’ number 11, the comparison only becomes more one-sided here, as while he does do better in a few metrics, the young Belgian does better in the vast majority.
For example, the “game-changing” prospect, as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, does far better in metrics like non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes and carries, passes and crosses into the penalty area, tackles, blocks, interceptions, shot and goal-creating actions, successful take-ons and many, many more, all per 90.
Non-Penalty G+As
0.51
0.47
Progressive Passes
2.54
2.05
Progressive Passes Received
11.6
11.4
Progressive Carries
6.33
4.88
Shots
1.76
2.16
Shots on Target
0.85
0.94
Passing Accuracy
77.4%
71.4%
Expected Assists
0.25
0.19
Key Passes
1.41
1.57
Passes into the Final Third
1.13
0.43
Passes into the Penalty Area
1.81
1.46
Crosses into the Penalty Area
0.73
0.59
Live Passes
35.2
26.7
Shot-Creating Actions
3.12
2.91
Goal-Creating Actions
0.62
0.27
Tackles
1.24
0.91
Blocks
0.68
0.59
Interceptions
0.45
0.20
Clearances
0.34
0.75
Successful Take-Ons
1.36
1.30
Ball Recoveries
3.56
3.07
Finally, according to Mango, the youngster is also blessed with “frightening speed & acceleration,” so the North Londoners wouldn’t miss out on Martinelli’s breakaway potential if he was replaced on the left.
Ultimately, Fofana might not be the biggest name around at the moment, but he looks set to become a superstar and is already better than Arsenal’s regular starting left-winger.
Therefore, the club should do everything possible to sign him as soon as possible.
Arsenal very close to signing £50m star who's a Saka & Rodrygo hybrid
The uber-talented international could be just the winger Arsenal need.
The summer transfer window is nigh. Everton have one final Premier League match to play out this season, against Newcastle United on Tyneside, but 13th place has been sealed and Goodison Park has been left behind.
The air was blue but the mood was not last weekend, with The Toffees’ victory over Southampton one of the most charged and emotional days in the club’s modern history. A day of celebration.
David Moyes ensured it was so, having led the squad away from the lower levels of the Premier League after replacing Sean Dyche in January. The Scottish tactician will lead Everton into the Hill Dickinson Stadium, and his sights will be set on progress.
While fans are excited about potential incomings, many are leaving at the end of their contracts and interest in star defender Jarrad Branthwaite remains too. Whether the English sensation stays or goes, Moyes wants a new centre-back.
Everton considering bid for new centre-back
According to TEAMtalk, Everton are weighing up a bid for Nantes centre-back Nathan Zeze, though they face fierce competition from Bournemouth, who have already submitted a verbal offer of around €20m (£17m) as they look to replace the Real Madrid-bound Dean Huijsen.
Nantes' Nathan Zeze.
It’s understood that the reason Everton have yet to make any concrete move stems from the ongoing reshuffle process, with the bosses internally deciding who should leave and who should stay.
As per the report, centre-back is deemed to be a ‘priority’ for the Toffees this summer, with the Friedkin Group ready to back Moyes in the market ahead of a fresh start next season.
Why Everton should sign Nathan Zeze
Veteran defender Michael Keane is among the many Everton first-teamers facing the end of their contract this summer, and he could be replaced by a younger man in Zeze.
Nathan Zeze in action for Nantes
Hailed as an “elite” youngster by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the Frenchman has the potential to reach the level of someone like Branthwaite, with a modern outlook and a left-footed preference that suggests he could even replace the England international, who has been courted by Manchester United over the past year, with Liverpool and Manchester City also among those to register their interest.
In a way, Zeze could become Moyes’ own Branthwaite, arriving as a youngster and becoming one of the most talented defenders in the Premier League at an early age.
Zeze’s development in France could positively impact his start to life at Everton. Take, for example, Branthwaite’s 2022/23 loan spell with PSV Eindhoven in the Eredivisie. The renowned Premier League defender used that spell, 20 at the time, in Holland to foster his youthful talents, and he’s now reaping the benefits of his toils.
That campaign also serves as a better yardstick than his English exploits, when comparing him with Zeze.
Matches (starts)
27 (21)
18 (17)
Goals
2
0
Assists
1
0
Touches*
56.6
62.1
Pass completion
87%
86%
Ball recoveries*
6.6
3.7
Tackles + interceptions*
2.3
3.4
Clearances*
3.4
6.6
Duels (won)*
3.4 (56%)
4.8 (61%)
As you can see, Zeze has arrived on the senior stage with a firm defensive quality, so strong in the duel and active in clearing danger away. Moreover, he’s incredibly fierce in ball-winning situations, something that could be translated well into Moyes’ system, where Branthwaite is thriving.
The teenager, who will turn 20 in June, has already played 35 times for the Nantes first team, his maturity underscored by recent weeks, playing every minute of five of his side’s past six Ligue 1 matches, conceding only five goals in that period.
Branthwaite is the cream of Moyes’ defensive crop, but Zeze has that ‘elite’ capacity which could propel him into the upper echelon of defenders in the Premier League.
The Friedkin Group just need to make sure they seal the deal before Bournemouth canvass a proposal the prospect can’t resist.
Moyes already has Everton's Doucoure replacement in future "top PL player"
With Abdoulaye Doucouré set to leave Everton after Sunday’s visit to Newcastle, does David Moyes already have a ready-made replacement?
Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy and the Lilywhites board have held fresh talks about Ange Postecoglou’s future after their glorious night in the Europa League on Wednesday, with their current stance on keeping or sacking the tactician emerging.
Ange Postecoglou's plea to Spurs board during victory parade
The 59-year-old became a Lilywhites hero overnight, guiding the club to their first piece of major silverware in 17 years and only European trophy since 1984.
Tottenham "dreaming" of signing £67m ex-PSG star after Europa League triumph
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Postecoglou came under fire for a bold statement earlier in the campaign, namely that he ‘always’ wins trophies during his second season in charge, but that message will now go down as one of the most memorable quotes in recent football history after Tottenham’s Europa League triumph.
Player
Rating
Guglielmo Vicario
7.7
Yves Bissouma
7.6
Cristian Romero
7.4
Bruno Fernandes
7.4
Destiny Udogie
7.2
Brennan Johnson also etched himself into Spurs folklore with his scrappy winner minutes before half-time, with the defensive heroics of Micky van de Ven – who made a match-saving clearance off the line – and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario’s vital saves proving decisive on an unforgettable night for the club.
Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie and Pedro Porro’s robust defensive displays also helped to shut out a lacklustre Man United side who simply couldn’t find any joy at all in the final third, despite their dominnace in possession.
TottenhamHotspur's CristianRomeroreacts
While Postecoglou’s future at Spurs remains uncertain (David Ornstein), despite their celebrations, it is pretty clear that the manager wishes to continue his mission.
The north Londoners endured a lacklustre domestic campaign, breaking their all-time record for most Premier League defeats in a single season, but Postecoglou sent a subtle message to the board during their victory parade in London on Friday.
“I told them, and they laughed,” said Postecoglou after Tottenham’s open-top bus celebrations.
“I told them and they didn’t believe. And here we are. I’ll leave you with this: all the best television series, season three is better than season two.”
Postecoglou’s hint suggests the ex-Celtic boss has every intention to build upon their European success, but it remains to be seen whether Levy is on the same page.
Tottenham stance on sacking Postecoglou after fresh boardroom talks
In the wake of their triumph in Bilbao, journalist Pete O’Rourke has told Football Insider that high-ranking Tottenham chiefs are discussing what to do next in the managerial dugout.
According to the reporter, Levy and the Spurs board held fresh talks regarding Postecoglou after their Europa League final win, with O’Rourke sharing what their current stance is about potentially sacking him.
It is believed that, following their midweek celebrations, the club are now ’50/50′ when it comes to sticking or twisting with Postecoglou – indicating that they now have much more to think about in what has suddenly become a major conundrum.
While reports in the build-up to their clash with United indicated that Postecoglou could be sacked regardless of their Europa triumph, and that apparently remains the case, the emotion of such a momentous occasion makes this call far easier said than done in practice.
In terms of possible replacements, there are no shortage of options that have been linked in a long Tottenham managerial target list which includes the likes of Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth), Marco Silva (Fulham), Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace), Thomas Frank (Brentford), Scott Parker (Burnley), Jürgen Klopp (Head of Global, Red Bull), Niko Kovač (Borussia Dortmund), Edin Terzić (free agent), Xavi (free agent) and Francesco Farioli (free agent).
Irrespective of what happens in the FA Cup final on Saturday, it has been an incredibly disappointing season for Manchester City and Pep Guardiola.
The Cityzens are currently scrapping it out to secure a place in the top five to land Champions League football for next season, whilst they have already missed out on the Premier League title.
Manchester City manager PepGuardiola
They were also knocked out of the Champions League in the play-off round and lost to Tottenham Hotspur in the fourth round of the League Cup, which illustrates how disappointing this campaign has been for the club.
Despite having Erling Haaland back in the side, City’s struggles continued against already-relegated Southampton, who had 11 points heading into the game, last weekend in a 0-0 draw.
Manchester City did not create a single ‘big chance’ in the game, and one area in which they could look to improve their creativity is in the full-back positions, because Rico Lewis did not create any chances in 76 minutes on the pitch at right-back.
Why Manchester City should replace Rico Lewis
The Cityzens academy graduate is tidy and reliable in possession, having completed 91% of his attempted passes in the Premier League this season, but he does not offer much of a threat at the top end of the pitch.
Guardiola cannot look to Lewis to create something out of nothing by bombing down the flank to put a great delivery in, or to come in at the back post to score a goal to change or win a game.
Manchester City defender Rico Lewis.
The 20-year-old defender has gone 28 matches without creating a ‘big chance’ in the Premier League this season, which shows that he is not a player who can make a big impact at the top end of the pitch.
Lewis has also scored one goal and missed two ‘big chances’ in those 28 outings in the top-flight, which shows that he does not offer much of a goalscoring threat either.
Appearances
28
xG
1.38
Goals
1
Key passes per game
0.3
Big chances created
0
Assists
2
Dribbles completed per game
0.3
Dribble success rate
45%
As you can see in the table above, the England international does not excel when it comes to making things happen in the final third, as he rarely scores, creates, or dribbles from a right or left-back position for the Cityzens.
That is why Manchester City should look to replace him as a regular starter in the upcoming summer transfer window, which is what they may be doing with their reported interest in a defender from Italy.
Manchester City closing in on Serie A defender
According to reports in France, Manchester City are eyeing up a deal to sign Nicolo Savona from Italian giants Juventus ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
The reporter claims that the Premier League giants have verbally agreed personal terms with the 22-year-old full-back, as they look to bolster their options at the back this summer.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Aouna adds that contract terms have already been discussed between the club and the player, with personal terms now agreed, and that Savona is keen on a move to The Etihad.
However, the journalist does not reveal how much Juventus are set to demand for the defender, or how much City are willing to pay for him to get a deal over the line in the coming weeks or months.
He does state, though, that Flamengo defender Wesley Franca and Newcastle United full-back Tino Livramento, formerly of Chelsea, are also options to come in at right-back for City in the summer transfer window.
This suggests that Savona is just one of a number of targets and that there is no guarantee that they decide to go with him over the others, despite seemingly closing in on a deal to sign the right-back after agreeing personal terms with him.
Why Manchester City should sign Nicolo Savona
The Italian dynamo could be an excellent addition to the squad if they do decide to go ahead with a swoop for his services, though, because he could be a big upgrade on Rico Lewis.
Firstly, Savona has the technical quality and reliability with the ball at his feet to suit playing in a Guardiola team, hence why they are eyeing him up as a target. This is evidenced by his pass completion rate of 91% in the Serie A for Juventus this season.
Manchester City manager PepGuardiolaapplauds fans after the match
The 22-year-old star, who can play as a centre-back in a back three or as a right-back or right wing-back in a four or three-back system, rarely gives the ball away with his passes, which is why he could suit a ball-dominant Manchester City side.
However, Savona provides more quality as an attacking threat than Lewis, who is also technically proficient and reliable with the ball, currently does at right-back for Manchester City.
Starts
21
18
xG
1.38
0.45
Goals
1
2
Touches per game
55.7
44.7
Key passes
8
16
Big chances created
0
2
Dribble success rate
45%
55%
As you can see in the table above, the Juventus defender has been more effective as a goalscorer, a creator, and a dribbler at league level this season, despite taking 11 fewer touches per game, in comparison to the English full-back.
These statistics suggest that Savona, dubbed an “interesting” player by talent scout Jacek Kulig, could improve his output even further as part of a Manchester City team that would allow him to take more touches of the ball, giving him more opportunities to move into the final third to provide quality as a scorer and a creator of goals.
Savona, who stepped into an advanced position to score against Udinese in the clip above, also provided six assists in 41 games for Juventus at U19 level and five assists in 61 matches for their Next Gen side.
Therefore, his form for the Old Lady at youth and senior level suggests that the potential is there for him to arrive at The Etihad as an upgrade on Rico Lewis, who has not offered enough quality on the ball in the Premier League this season.
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It is now down to the club to strike a deal with Juventus to bring the Italian talent to England this summer, having already agreed personal terms with the exciting youngster.