Leicester City will soon be back in the Championship and have now lined up a potential replacement for Ruud van Nistelrooy who would be open to taking over at the King Power Stadium.

Leicester City boss Ruud van Nistelrooy's uncertain future

Truthfully, Leicester City have struggled to adapt to the Premier League and their relegation against Liverpool earlier this month proved to be something of an inevitable end result.

Ruud van Nistlerooy has been unable to turn the tide since taking over from Steve Cooper, with a return of three victories, two draws and 18 defeats across all competitions certifying that his side will return to the EFL Championship after a year in the top-flight.

The former Netherlands international is under contract until 2027, but there are naturally some doubts over his position at the club following a dismal run of results.

Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl is said to be on the Foxes’ list and has been evaluated internally by their hierarchy. Meanwhile, England Under-21 boss Lee Carsley has also emerged as a potential candidate.

Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior could be targeted by Leicester City following his sterling work at the BlueCo-owned Ligue 1 outfit, though he is also attracting interest at Southampton, who have their own vacancy to fill.

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The bigger picture in the East Midlands can be altered with the right appointment. Sales will happen this summer, but there is still the makings of a talented squad to work with for whoever is chosen to lead the Foxes in the Championship.

In light of this, another progressive candidate has come to the table and may be open to taking the job at the King Power over the next few weeks.

Leicester City set for tussle over top target Russell Martin

According to The Sun, Russell Martin is Leicester City’s first choice to fill their managerial vacancy, and he is now said to be keen on being installed as their new manager should an approach be made for his services.

On the flip side, Rangers have shortlisted the 39-year-old as a candidate to take over from Barry Ferguson, creating a scenario where whoever makes the first move could land the former Southampton and Swansea City boss.

Russell Martin’s managerial record – would he be a good choice for Leicester City?

Games managed

252

Wins

101

Draws

56

Defeats

95

Intriguingly, he has lost every match when in the dugout against Leicester City, but his promotion-winning campaign with Southampton last term may be of interest to the Foxes as they seek a return to the Premier League in 2025/26.

Neither themselves or Rangers are in an immediate rush to make an appointment, so it remains to be seen how things will play out for the former Scotland international, who has previously been praised by Pep Guardiola for his brave tactical framework.

Ultimately, timeframes aren’t important for Leicester City, they will take their time before coming to a conclusion over who is the right man to take them forward.

A “dynamic” Crystal Palace academy talent is wanted by some big clubs in the summer transfer window, according to a new update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Ins and outs expected at Crystal Palace this summer

The Eagles have once again enjoyed a solid season in the Premier League, preserving their top-flight status for another year and reaching the FA Cup final against Manchester City later this month.

It could be a busy summer at Palace both in terms of incomings and outgoings, with star man Eberechi Eze linked with a move to Manchester United. The south Londoners will do well to keep hold of the England international, but they will of course only allow him to leave for big money.

In terms of possible signings, Holstein Kiel striker Phil Harres has been touted as an option for the Eagles, with the 23-year-old scoring eight goals in the Bundesliga this season. Wolves are also thought to be in the mix to sign him.

Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi has also been backed to move to Palace ahead of next season, following the Foxes’ relegation from the Premier League to the Championship. The 28-year-old would be an experienced addition to Oliver Glasner’s midfield.

"Dynamic" Crystal Palace ace a wanted man

Taking to X on Monday, Romano claimed that Crystal Palace youngster Hindolo Mustapha is wanted by a host of clubs this summer, including Eredivisie giants Ajax and Feyenoord.

Losing Mustapha so early in his career would be a shame for Palace, considering he is among the most eye-catching young players at the club.

Hindolo Mustapha’s Crystal Palace stats	Appearances	Goals	Assists
Crystal Palace Under-18s	32	5	12
Crystal Palace Under-21s	27	12	6

The 18-year-old has registered 35 goal contributions (17 goals and 18 assists) in 59 appearances for the Eagles’ Under-18s and Under-21s combined, and analyst Ben Mattinson has praised him for his “dynamic” style of play.

For that reason, sending Mustapha on loan for the 2025/26 season arguably makes more sense than allowing him to leave on a permanent basis.

£50m Crystal Palace star tells chiefs he wants out amid Man Utd interest

A Crystal Palace star is now ready to start a new challenge at the end of this season.

By
Brett Worthington

May 2, 2025

Palace could then reassess the situation this time next year, looking at how well he has done on loan and weighing up whether he is a long-term part of the club’s plans or not.

It’s safe to say that Liverpool and their closest title rivals this season, Arsenal, enjoyed very different weeks.

While the Gunners were in Paris, crashing out of the Champions League, those back at Merseyside were metaphorically and quite literally on the beach.

Midfielder Alexis Mac Allister was pictured enjoying a sandy sun-kissed setting just a few days before their clash with Mikel Arteta’s men on Sunday.

Truth be told, the opening to the game very much played out like one where both teams wanted the campaign to end.

Arsenal spurned early chances after lacklustre Liverpool defending and then the visitors did not cover themselves in glory across a two-minute spell from the 20th minute, where Arne Slot’s side raced into a 2-0 lead.

While the Londoners came back into things courtesy of Gabriel Martinelli and Mikel Merino, the result meant nothing for the Reds. They have, of course, already won the league.

Still, it wasn’t without its drama. Trent Alexander-Arnold was booed after being brought on as a sub. He’s not the only one who is likely playing his final minutes for the Anfield outfit though.

Who could leave Liverpool this summer

The most important news for Liverpool heading into the transfer window is that, despite Alexander-Arnold’s departure to Real Madrid, they are keeping their other two most important assets.

Indeed, only a few weeks ago, both Virgil van Dijk and Mo Salah signed new terms, ensuring that Slot’s side should still be pretty strong next season.

That said, there could be sweeping changes elsewhere, notably in the forward line. Indeed, the future looks remarkably uncertain for winger Luis Diaz.

The Colombian has had a sensational term for Liverpool, scoring 17 goals and registering eight assists in all competitions. His form has attracted the interest of Barcelona, according to reports, and he could well be exiting in the summer.

Diogo Jota’s future also remains unclear. The Portuguese has been a very underrated player since moving from Wolves but has arguably endured his toughest year at the club.

Jota has missed 18 games for club and country this term due to muscle problems and he’s not been too consistent on the field either, finding the net on just nine occasions in 36 outings.

As a result, amid reported interest from the Saudi Pro League, it would not be a surprise if FSG agreed to sanction his departure without much hesitation.

Transfer Focus

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

You may notice we’re missing one key name here, though.

What the future holds for Darwin Nunez at Liverpool

Has there been a more perplexing attacker in Liverpool history than Darwin Nunez? On his day, he’s a world-beater, boasting pace and power to burst past the most resolute of defences. However, his finishing leaves a lot to be desired, particularly when he cost a club-record £85m.

Well, since that move, he’s not exactly set the world alight in English football. Consequently, a move away could well be on the cards.

According to reports from Spain over the weekend, Nunez has already attracted two bids worth around £50m from Italian side Napoli and German team RB Leipzig.

It’s revealed that the Reds are ‘in no rush’ to sell the player, but with Slot wanting to improve the options at his disposal this summer, that could be important cash gained.

First and foremost, that’s a primary reason FSG must be open to bids this summer. While a move for Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, now valued at £150m, is likely off the cards, Liverpool have been linked with Benjamin Sesko of the aforementioned Leipzig.

While the Slovenian is certainly raw, like Nunez was when he moved to Anfield, there is a belief that he could reach elite levels in the not-too-distant future, having netted 21 times in 2024/25.

The biggest reason for wanting to move the Uruguayan on, however, is that he’s far too wasteful to play back up, let alone be the focal point of the team alongside Salah.

This season, Nunez has a measly goal tally of just seven in 45 appearances. The 25-year-old has only started eight league games as well. For someone who cost as much as he did, that simply isn’t acceptable.

His record of missing big chances is also particularly poor.

2022/23

29

9

20

2023/24

36

11

27

2024/25

28

5

7

To his credit, the £140k-per-week earner has improved in that regard this season, but the damage as far as his reputation in the Premier League was already done by the time the 2024/25 campaign had come around.

In the South American’s first year, only Erling Haaland (28) and Marcus Rashford (22) missed more big chances, while last term, only Haaland (34), was worse. Now, the key difference here is that while the Norwegian powerhouse misses a lot of chances, he also puts them away at an incredible rate.

Salah has had an extraordinarily good season in front of goal this time around, bagging 33, and while he is unlikely to slow down too much next season, Liverpool need someone else to take on the goalscoring burden.

It’s safe to say Nunez just isn’t going to be that person. He should be sold with an upgrade sought.

Fewer touches than Alisson: Slot must axe 5/10 Liverpool dud after Arsenal

Arne Slot must drop this Liverpool dud who was worse than Conor Bradley against Arsenal.

3 ByDan Emery May 11, 2025

Chelsea are now eyeing a summer move for a “composed” defender, with manager Enzo Maresca believed to be a keen admirer, according to a report.

Blues eyeing centre-back amid latest Disasi update

Axel Disasi has spent the second half of the season on loan at Aston Villa, and it looks as though the 27-year-old could be heading for a permanent exit at the end of the season, with the Villans now opening talks over a summer deal.

Maresca’s side have been faring well in their pursuit of the Champions League without Disasi, and they are now just one win away from securing qualification for Europe’s elite competition next season, with the crucial trip to Nottingham Forest pencilled in for next weekend.

As such, it could make sense to sanction the Frenchman’s departure, but Maresca may be keen on bringing in a top-level replacement, should his side return to the Champions League, with FA Cup-winning captain Marc Guehi among the potential targets.

After leading his Crystal Palace side to FA Cup glory, Guehi is likely to have no shortage of interest this summer, but the 24-year-old is not the only English centre-back of interest to the west Londoners.

According to The Telegraph’s John Percy, Chelsea are now interested in signing Leicester City defender Ben Nelson, who caught the eye with his impressive performances for Oxford United in the Championship last season.

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The Blues have been keen on Nelson for quite some time, having also considered a move back in the January transfer window, and their interest seems like it stems from their manager, with Maresca believed to be an admirer.

The Italian has previously described his former player as “ideal”, while also adding: “He’s quick. He can play right or left – it’s perfect.”

"Composed" Nelson destined for the top

Not only is Maresca a big fan of the Leicester ace, but he also impressed teammate Peter Kioso during his time with the U’s, with the fellow defender saying: “Nels has come in and done what he’s needed to do. Credit to him, he’s still a young lad and I feel like he’ll go to the very top in football, just from his mentality and how he reads the game, and how composed he is.”

Player

Current club

Potential cost

Marc Guehi

Crystal Palace

£60m

Antonio Rudiger

Real Madrid

Unknown

David Hancko

Feyenoord

£42m

Ousmane Diomande

Sporting CP

£68m

The 21-year-old missed large parts of the campaign with injury problems, but he remained a key player when fit, making 17 appearances for Oxford in the Championship, featuring at centre-back on every occasion.

Having put in some solid performances in the second tier at a young age, the £5k-a-week defender may soon be ready to make the step-up to the Premier League, but Chelsea should also make sure to bring in a more experienced centre-back, having identified a number of targets.

Leeds United’s attack has played a vital role in their success throughout the Championship title-winning campaign, producing the goods on countless occasions.

Daniel Farke’s side registered a total of 95 goals in the 46 appearances, the most of any side in the division, undoubtedly playing a key role in their ability to finish top of the table.

Joel Piroe scored 19 times, the most of any player in the division, proving his worth at Elland Road after joining the Whites for a fee in the region of £10m in the summer of 2023.

However, despite the impressive form of numerous players in 2024/25, added reinforcements are needed in such a department if they are to secure survival next time around.

With the transfer window just around the corner, the hierarchy have wasted no time in identifying targets for Farke, as the German looks to establish the club as a Premier League outfit once again.

The latest on Leeds’ pursuit of new attackers this summer

In recent days, Leeds have been in the race to sign Newcastle United forward Callum Wilson this summer, with the 33-year-old’s deal set to expire at the end of June.

They’re not alone in their pursuit of the Magpies centre-forward, with West Ham United just another team in the race to land the striker, who’s scored 49 times in his 130 appearances for the club.

However, he’s not the only forward-thinking option currently on their radar, with Sheffield United star Gustavo Hamer another option considered by Farke, according to talkSPORT.

The report claims that the 27-year-old is set to depart the Blades this summer after their play-off final defeat, with the Whites just one of the sides mooted as a possible destination.

It also states that the hierarchy at Bramall Lane are resigned to losing him in the coming months, but it doesn’t say how much they will demand to part ways with him this summer. That said, Transfermarkt value him at around £13m.

Why Hamer could be Farke’s next Summerville

Winger Crysencio Summerville captured the hearts of the fanbase during his stint at Leeds, producing numerous moments of magic during his three-year stint in Yorkshire.

The Dutchman joined the club in 2021, originally linking up with the youth setup, before making the jump up to the first-team and being a monster hit at Elland Road.

He scored the winner against Liverpool at Anfield back in the 2022/23 campaign, but it wasn’t enough come the end of the season as the club dropped into the Championship.

Relegation would be a blessing in disguise for his career, registering 20 goals and nine assists for the Whites last season, leading to a £25m move to join West Ham United.

The supporters must wish they were able to keep hold of the 23-year-old, but they could land their next version of the Dutchman in the form of his compatriot, Hamer.

Like Summerville, he’s enjoyed his latest spell in the second tier, registering 18 combined goals and assists, possessing a similar playstyle to the departed attacker, with both liking to cut inside off the left onto their right foot.

Games played

41

43

Goals & assists

16

28

Progressive passes

6.4

4.4

Passes into final third

4.4

1.7

Passes into 18-yard box

2.2

1.7

Take-on success

54%

53%

Times dispossessed

0.7

1.8

The Blades star, who’s been labelled “unbelievable” by former teammate Ollie McBurnie, has managed to match or better Summerville in numerous key areas from his previous year in Yorkshire, showcasing how much of an excellent addition he would be this summer.

Whilst it remains unclear how much a deal would set the hierarchy back in the coming weeks, it would be a superb piece of business that would inject added quality into the front line.

If he manages to get anywhere near close to the levels produced by the departed Dutchman at Elland Road, he would be a potential bargain, strengthening their ambitions of staying in the Premier League.

He's the new Coutinho: Liverpool set to sign "generational" star very soon

Liverpool are moving quickly to make new signings for Arne Slot’s side.

ByAngus Sinclair May 27, 2025

It is make or break for Sunderland this afternoon as their 2024/25 campaign will be defined by the outcome of today’s Championship play-off final clash with Sheffield United.

The Black Cats beat Coventry City 3-2 on aggregate in the semi-finals of the play-offs, thanks to a dramatic late winner in extra-time from central defender Dan Ballard, sending the Stadium of Light into raptures.

Regis Le Bris now faces the unenviable task of selecting the right starting XI to take to the field against Sheffield United this afternoon at Wembley, and Chris Rigg is one player who should be brought back in.

Why Chris Rigg should start

Sunderland know that this is a high-stakes game and that any small errors could be the difference between another season in the Championship or playing Premier League football in the 2025/26 campaign.

Therefore, it could make sense to bring in another midfielder who can provide solidity just ahead of Dan Neil and Jobe Bellingham, making it even harder for the Blades to break them down.

In the regular Championship season, Rigg won four duels per game on average, winning 47% of his battles overall, and averaged 1.6 tackles and interceptions per game, without a single error that led to a goal or a penalty for the opposition.

Chalkboard

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

This means that the teenage midfielder would add another layer of defensive insurance ahead of the back four by coming into the side, but it would also mean that Eliezer Mayenda would have to drop to the bench to make way for the English ace to play behind Wilson Isidor.

Why Eliezer Mayenda should be dropped

Le Bris should ruthlessly drop the 20-year-old starlet to the bench for today’s final in order to make room for Rigg to provide a reliable presence at the top of the midfield.

This would also provide Mayenda with the opportunity to come on as an impact substitute, which suits his style of play with his directness and pace on the counter-attack, as he could cause problems for a tired Sheffield United defence late on.

His disappointing performance against Coventry in the second leg of the semi-final, though, suggests that it may be too much of a gamble to play him from the start.

Minutes

120

Goals + assists

0

Successful dribbles

2/6

Pass accuracy

29% (2/7)

Duels won

6/18

Key passes

0

Possession lost

15x

As you can see in the table above, Mayenda played the full 120 minutes against the Sky Blues and only completed two passes, without creating any chances, and lost the vast majority of his duels.

This suggests that he could be a liability in the final from the start if he produced a similar kind of performance, as the Sheffield United players could find it too easy to beat him in duels and to intercept his passes.

Therefore, dropping him for Rigg, who has won 47% of his duels and completed 79% of his passes in the Championship, could increase Sunderland’s chances of being solid from the start.

Le Bris would then have the option to bring Mayenda’s pace off the bench to make an impact late on, by taking Rigg off to play the Frenchman in a front two with Isidor, which is why this could be a good tactical move for multiple reasons.

Le Fee 2.0: Sunderland set sights on signing "fantastic" star from France

Sunderland could be about to pick up their next Enzo Le Fee with this summer buy.

ByKelan Sarson May 21, 2025

Everton picked up their ninth Premier League victory of the season on the road at Fulham as David Moyes’ men fought back to clinch a 3-1 victory.

After Raul Jimenez opened the scoring for Fulham in the first half, it looked as if another grim defeat was going to be put by Everton’s name. However, a fight-back kick-started by Ukrainian full-back Vitaly Mykolenko would get the ball rolling, leading to the Toffees running out as 3-1 winners.

Away from the defender equalising, however, there were a number of star performers from Everton’s perspective in attack which included Beto putting in another lively display up top.

Beto's performance in numbers

Of course, there has been a lot of chatter suggesting that Beto could be on the radar of newly promoted Leeds United this summer.

But, off the back of another impressive showing at Craven Cottage, he could be Everton’s new main focal point in the striker position, away from any move being signed off on for him to exit Merseyside.

Beto would make sure of all three points when racing forward late on, leading to the ex-Udinese attacker curling an effort past Bernd Leno on the 73rd minute mark.

Away from this moment of magic beating the German, Beto would end the game with a mammoth 11 duels won in total, alongside the lively 6 foot 4 striker also tallying up a further two efforts on goal to try and make his team’s win more comprehensive in West London.

But, whilst the Portuguese forward would ensure Everton collected all three points, there was another teammate in the attacking areas who stole the show and proved why he could go on to be a £100m talent like Manchester City-linked Morgan Gibbs-White.

The Everton ace who's a future £100m star

It was a very positive showing from Everton all over the pitch, with Jordan Pickford having to stay alert in between the sticks by making five saves, away from the likes of Beto remaining clinical in front of goal.

Yet, although he wouldn’t get on the scoresheet himself during the 3-1 win, Carlos Alcaraz would stand out throughout as a dangerous forward presence, with the Argentine winger showing why he’s deemed to be statistically similar to Nottingham Forest star-man Gibbs-White, among those in their position in Europe’s top five leagues, according to FBref.

Alcaraz’s performance in numbers
Stat	Alcaraz
Minutes played	84
Goals scored	0
Assists	1
Accurate passes	16/18 (89%)
Key passes	2
Accurate long balls	4/4
Shots	2
Total duels won	3/7
Stats by Sofascore

Much like Gibbs-White, who boasts nine assists next to his name this season, the South American would tee up Beto for the game-clinching moment at Craven Cottage, alongside also showing off his prowess in front of goal when firing two efforts at Leno’s net that just went astray.

Winning three duels too, Alcaraz proved throughout that he could go on to be as lively and as creative as his English counterpart if snapped up permanently by Moyes and Co, having largely impressed in Everton blue since his January loan switch from Flamengo.

Liverpool Echo journalist Chris Beesley would hand out a high 7/10 rating to Alcaraz post-match, subsequently stating that the ex-Southampton man ‘spectacularly’ grew into the contest, leading to a much-deserved win occurring on Everton’s travels.

With one goal and three assists next to his name this season in the Premier League, it will be intriguing to see if the Toffees do land Alcaraz’s signature on a permanent soon, with the same adoration handed out to Gibbs-White at the City Ground now happening with the 22-year-old at his new location, culminating in his name being heartily chanted at the full-time whistle at Craven Cottage.

Whatever does happen in the summer with Alcaraz, Moyes will just hope between now and then that the wins keep being notched up in league action, with a promising new horizon already coming into view at Bramley Moore.

Big Calvert-Lewin upgrade: Everton readying bid for "exquisite" CF

David Moyes wants to add a new striker to his Everton ranks this summer.

1

By
Angus Sinclair

May 6, 2025

Just one more game until Arsenal fans can forget all about what has been a seriously disappointing season.

For the third year on the bounce, Mikel Arteta’s side look set to finish as runners-up in the Premier League, and while injuries have certainly played their part, the players just haven’t hit the level required.

For example, Gabriel Martinelli, who many hoped was just having an off year last season, has once again underwhelmed for much of the campaign, and looks a shadow of the winger who took the league by storm in 22/23.

In fact, his lacklustre showings this year might be about to cost him his place in the starting lineup, as recent reports have linked the club with a sensational winger who could be the perfect upgrade.

Arsenal's winger search

Given the lack of impact Arsenal’s left-wingers have had this season, it’s been unsurprising to see them linked with a number of top-quality left-wingers in recent weeks, like Daizen Maeda and Rodrygo.

Transfer Focus

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

Expand Collapse

The former could be available for just £25m this summer, which may well be a bargain, as in 50 appearances for Celtic this season, he has managed to score a staggering 33 goals and provide 12 assists to boot.

Rodrygo, on the other hand, could cost up to £85m, but given his vast experience with a club the size of Real Madrid and the fact he’s racked up 23 goal involvements in 50 games this season, that may well be a fee worth paying.

However, Arteta and Co might want to go out and spend a little less on a winger who has experience in a top-five league and could still be an upgrade on Martinelli, someone like Jamie Gittens.

According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal hold a genuine interest in Borussia Dortmund’s young star.

In fact, the report has revealed that the Gunners are racing against Premier League rivals Newcastle United and Chelsea for the Englishman’s signature, which could cost them around €55m, or £46m.

It might sound like a lot for a 20-year-old, but given Gittens ability and immense potential, this is a transfer worth pursuing, especially as he could also be a serious upgrade on Martinelli.

How Gittens compares to Martinelli

So, while Gittens can play on both wings, which is already a big bonus to signing him, he’s a natural leftwinger, and with Bukayo Saka being who he is, the left is where he would primarily play at Arsenal.

Therefore, one of his primary competitors for game time at the club would be Martinelli, but who comes out on top when we compare them?

Well, from an output perspective, it’s the Dortmund ace who comes out on top, as in 50 appearances, totalling 2791 minutes, he has scored 12 goals and provided five assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.82 games, or every 164.17 minutes.

In contrast, the Brazilian ace has scored ten goals and provided six assists in 50 appearances, totalling 3493 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 3.12 games, or every 218.31 minutes.

What about when we take a look under the hood, then? At their underlying numbers?

Gittens vs Martinelli

Statistic

Gittens

Martinelli

Non-Penalty G+As

0.56

0.49

Progressive Passes

2.13

1.98

Progressive Carries

5.74

4.86

Shots

2.64

2.07

Shots on Target

1.22

0.89

Passing Accuracy

76.5%

71.2%

Key Passes

1.07

1.50

Shot-Creating Actions

3.70

2.71

Goal-Creating Actions

0.51

0.24

Tackles Won

0.96

0.61

Interceptions

0.51

0.20

Successful Take-Ons

3.91

1.30

Carries into the Final Third

2.84

1.30

Carries into the Penalty Area

3.20

2.51

Ball Recoveries

3.20

3.08

All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 League Season

Well, it is once again a win for the 20-year-old, as in practically every relevant metric, “England’s best LW,” as Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley dubbed him, comes out on top.

Those metrics include things like non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes and carries, shots and shots on target, successful take-ons, shot and goal-creating actions, tackles won, interceptions, carries into the penalty area, passing accuracy and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, everything from Gittens’ raw output to his underlying numbers suggests he’s the far superior winger to Martinelli, and when you add in the fact he’s three years younger, signing him becomes a total no-brainer for Arsenal.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes May 21, 2025

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.

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.

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.

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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.

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.

Will Chelsea make any more signings before the Club World Cup transfer window closes on 10 June?

On Wednesday, the Blues unveiled Liam Delap, who has arrived from Ipswich Town, after Chelsea activated his £30m release clause.

Now, the West London side have until Tuesday to make any more new signings if they’re to feature at the newly revamped Club World Cup, with the Blues’ tournament opener against Los Angeles FC taking place in Atlanta on Monday 16 June.

So, by the time that fixture comes around at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, could the Chelsea supporters in attendance have another big-money signing to admire?

Chelsea looking to sign Sancho replacement

Earlier this week, it was confirmed that Chelsea will not sign Jadon Sancho from Manchester United permanently, choosing to, as outlined by Nizaar Kinsella of BBC Sport, pay a £5m penalty fee, rather than exercising a £25m obligation to buy.

Sancho scored just five goals in 42 appearances for the Blues this season, most memorably bagging a stunning curler against Real Betis in the recent Conference League Final in Wrocław.

The England international took to Instagram to thank his Chelsea “teammates, staff and the fans”, going to say that he was “grateful for the experience” so, while his own personal future is now uncertain, the Blues are searching for an upgrade.

Well, according to a report by Kaveh Solhekol for Sky Sports, Chelsea have been ‘offered the chance to sign’ Mohammed Kudus, who they claim has an £85m release clause in his contract at West Ham United.

It’s reported that Chelsea have not said ‘no’ and are weighing up whether to add him to their list of options this summer. A further report from BBC Sport notes that discussions between the Hammers and Chelsea have already taken place.

The winger currently has an £85m release clause for Premier League clubs and a £120m exit clause for Saudi clubs which could complicate matters.

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The Ghanaian arrived in East London from Ajax for £38m two summers ago, making 80 appearances for the Hammers to date, scoring 19 goals and registering 13 assists.

So, with the Blues on the lookout for a winger, could a move across the capital be on the cards for Kudus?

Why Mohammed Kudus is a Jadon Sancho upgrade

Kudus’ performances at West Ham have earnt widespread praise, with teammate Aaron Cresswell labeling him a “top talent”, adding that he’s “so strong, so quick and so sharp”, while George Addo Jr of BBC Sport is in awe of his “magic feet”.

Meantime, Patrick Boyland of the Athletic outlines how Kudus is ‘versatile’, capable of playing on either flank or centrally, describing him as a ‘prolific and effective dribbler’.

Adam Scully of Total Football Analysis agrees with this, stating that, ‘undoubtedly’, the Ghanaian’s best attribute is his ‘excellent’ dribbling ability, while Ben Mattinson of Breaking the Lines believes he has ‘world-class potential’.

On that evidence, he’d certainly be a great replacement for Sancho, another versatile forward player. The following statistics certainly support these assertions too.

Kudus 2024/25 Premier League statistics

Statistics

Kudus

PL rank

Attempted take-ons

208

1st

Successful take-ons

92

2nd

All statistics courtesy of FBref.com

Given how dismal West Ham were throughout this season, winning just 11 matches and finishing 15th, it is certainly very impressive that Kudus managed to attempt the most take-ons, second only to Jérémy Doku for successful take-ons too.

Nevertheless, the question still remains: would he be an upgrade on Sancho?

Kudus vs Sancho 24/25 PL comparison

Statistics

Kudus

Sancho

Appearances

32

31

Minutes

2,603

1,765

Goals

5

3

Assists

3

5

Note: All statistics below are on a per-90 basis.

Shots

2.61

1.22

Shot-creating actions

3.72

3.57

Attempted take-ons

7.22

4.95

Successful take-ons

3.19

2.30

Progressive carries

3.40

5.20

Touches

52.2

53.7

Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt, FBref.com and Squawka

As the table outlines, Kudus’ statistics are broadly more impressive than those of Sancho, despite the fact the Ghanian endured an underwhelming season in a very uninspiring West Ham side.

While not quite on the same level for progressive carries, more of his take-ons are actually successful and he’s a constant threat, taking more shots.

As already established, Kudus is a top-class dribbler, so now he just needs the output in front of goal to match, and a move to a better team could be exactly what he needs to take his game to the next level.

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