Aston Villa have joined West Ham in the race to sign Burnley midfielder Josh Brownhill, according to 90min.
The Lowdown: Brownhill profiled
The 26-year-old made the move to Turf Moor from Bristol City in 2020 and has gone on to make 81 appearances for the Clarets.
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The £40,000-a-week midfielder, who was described as ‘fabulous’ by Lee Hendrie, is currently at the top of his game with a career-high £6.3m Transfermarkt valuation.
The 26-year-old was wanted at Villa Park last year during Dean Smith’s time in charge, and it looks as if he is still on the radar under Steven Gerrard.
The Latest: Villa interest in Brownhill
90min shared a story regarding Brownhill’s future on Friday, claiming that West Ham are readying a summer bid for the Burnley man.
The report also name-checks Villa, along with Everton, Leeds, Wolves Fulham and Bournemouth, with an interest in the midfielder, although it is the Hammers who appear to be leading the way.
The Verdict: Gerrard not impressed?
Gerrard was able to watch Brownhill up close on Saturday during Villa’s 3-1 win at Turf Moor. The Clarets ace didn’t exactly impress, though, finishing as Burnley’s worst-rated midfielder, as per SofaScore.
He lost all five of his duels, failed to make a tackle or clearance and committed three fouls, one of which resulted in a yellow card.
Brownhill was also unsuccessful with three of his four crosses and didn’t register a single shot or dribble, so based on that performance, Villa’s interest in him may cool heading into the summer transfer window.
In other news: Gregg Evans shares ‘very important’ behind-the-scenes AVFC news
Former England international Danny Mills says Jurgen Klopp’s new deal at Liverpool is a ‘big boost’ for everyone concerned at the club.
The Lowdown: Klopp signs new deal
Last week, Klopp signed a two-year extension at Anfield, meaning he will now remain as manager until the summer of 2026.
It was a significant moment in Liverpool’s recent future, with the German completely transforming Liverpool since taking charge back in October 2015.
Not only has he won the Champions League and Premier League, among other trophies, but he also has turned the Reds into arguably the world’s best club side, currently neck and neck with an incredible Manchester City squad to decide who deserves that title.
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The Latest: Mills reacts positively
Speaking to Football Insider, Mills, a BBC Radio 5 Live pundit, was unsurprisingly positive about the news, saying it should only improve the current feel-good mood at Anfield:
“The timing is probably aimed at giving the whole squad a big boost. I’m guessing these talks have been going on for four or five months. This is not something that comes about a few days before when they ask ‘Jurgen will you sign a new contract?’ And he says ‘Oh, go on then’ and it’s done and dusted.
“When you’ve got a little bit of speculation around other players’ contracts, Mane and Salah, to announce Klopp’s contract and to say ‘He’s the man’, it gives everyone a bit of comfort.
“For those players, they think ‘Oh he’s going to be here, we can plan’ and if they are not going to be there then there is still a plan and it settles down the fans.
“Why wouldn’t you sign him up? He’s an exceptional manager. But remember, managers can be sacked. It only takes two disastrous seasons and he will be out. Simple as that.
“I don’t envisage that happening in any way shape or form but it’s much easier to tie down a manager because you can always get rid of them with six months or a year’s pay-off.”
The Verdict: Best news of the season
For all the talk of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane’s futures and potential new signings, Klopp staying on for a further two years is more important than anything else.
The 54-year-old holds the key to Liverpool’s success and he is already a truly legendary figure at the club, masterminding a glorious period in the Reds’ history and making legends out of his players.
In an ideal world, Klopp would stay on well beyond 2026 but to have him for an extra couple of years is huge in itself – the fact that rival clubs will likely be upset by the news sums up his brilliance.
In other news, a journalist has dropped a huge £80million Liverpool claim. Read more here.
Phil Hay has dropped an update on the future of Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips.
What’s the talk?
In a recent report for The Athletic, the journalist claimed that, according to his sources, Manchester United have begun to explore the possibility of a £50m move for the 26-year-old England international this summer, via intermediaries.
Hay went on to state that, while there is yet to be contact made with either Leeds United or Phillips himself, both interim United manager Ralf Rangnick and assistant manager Mike Phelan are thought to be big fans of the Whites academy graduate.
The journalist also revealed that, despite the midfielder looking set to leave his current agency firm for Stellar Group – the company responsible for negotiating Jack Grealish’s £100m switch from Aston Villa to Manchester City last summer – sources claim that this should not be taken as an indication that Phillips will be on the move at the end of the season.
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In summary, Hay compares the midfielder’s current situation to that of Alan Smith 18 years ago – the Leeds centre-forward who ended up joining United in a £7m deal – before suggesting that the 26-year-old’s saga may well have a different outcome.
Supporters will be buzzing
While it is clear that even a journalist with the access of Hay remains uncertain as to whether Phillips will end up making a move to Old Trafford this summer, his suggestion that United have not yet contacted Leeds regarding a deal for the midfielder – despite previous reports claiming that the Red Devils were making progress in a deal for the 19-time capped international – is sure to have left the Elland Road faithful buzzing.
Indeed, over his 29 Premier League appearances last season, the £45m-rated midfielder proved just how crucial a part of the Leeds side he is, making an average of 1.6 interceptions, 2.6 tackles, 1.7 clearances and winning 5.3 duels – at a success rate of 52% – per game.
The £38k-per-week talent also impressed in a creative capacity, bagging one goal, providing two assists and creating five big chances for his teammates, as well as completing an average of 1.2 key passes, 4.7 long balls and 41 passes per fixture.
These returns saw the 26-year-old average a quite remarkable SofaScore match rating of 7.21, not only ranking him as the Whites’ best performer in the league but also as the ninth-best midfielder in the division as a whole.
As such, while Phillips has only started 13 Premier League fixtures as a result of injury this season – something that has undoubtedly contributed to the club’s lowly league standing – it is clear for all to see that losing the services of the England international this summer would come as a massive blow to Jesse Marsch and his side – meaning Hay’s latest update is sure to come as music to the ears of Leeds supporters.
AND in other news: Orta now plotting £20m Leeds bid for “unbelievable” talent, he’s better than Aaronson
West Ham United’s return to Premier League football didn’t entirely go to plan on Saturday afternoon.
Nuno Espírito Santo’s side looked on course to win their third game on the bounce when Callum Wilson made it 2-0 against Bournemouth in the 35th minute. However, the Cherries fought back, and thanks to a penalty and a goal from Enes Unal, came away with a point.
With that said, in the context of the season at large, it’s still a good point for the Hammers, especially as they had to make do without dynamic Crysencio Summerville and Lucas Paqueta.
Unfortunately, the Dutchman won’t be fit for the Liverpool game, but Nuno might have the perfect solution, one that involves dropping Luis Guilherme.
Guilherme's game vs Bournemouth
Now, the first thing to say is that Guilherme is still a promising talent and someone who could develop into a real star for West Ham.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
However, what is equally true is that he failed to make a case for why he should be in the starting lineup in place of the injured Summerville next time out.
The young Brazilian wasn’t terrible on Saturday, but he was almost entirely ineffective, looking unable to create chances for his teammates or get himself into positions where chances could be supplied to him.
Moreover, the 19-year-old still looks as slight as ever and lacks any real power or pace, which are two traits becoming increasingly important for attackers in the Premier League.
Unsurprisingly, the manager decided to take him off at the break, which only made his dire statistics even more pitiful.
Minutes
45′
Expected Goals
0.00
Expected Assists
0.01
Shots
0
Passes
10
Touches
21
Lost Possession
9
Dribbles (Successful)
3 (1)
Ground Duels (Won)
8 (1)
Dribbled Past
1
In his 45 minutes of inaction, the Brazilian registered an expected assists figure of 0.01, failed to take a single shot, took just 21 touches, failed in 66% of his dribbles, lost the ball nine times, completed ten passes, was dribbled past and lost seven of eight duels.
In short, Guilherme proved he cannot come in for Summerville again, so Nuno has to bring in one of the club’s most exciting prospects instead.
West Ham's Summerville solution
The player Nuno should bring into the squad to replace Guilherme and help solve the blow of Summerville’s injury is George Earthy.
Now, that might sound bold, and perhaps it is, but the academy gem has long been talked about as one of the club’s next stars, and his time at youth level and out on loan suggests as much.
For example, in 60 appearances for the u18s, totalling 4804 minutes, he scored 25 goals and provided 18 assists, which is an average of a goal involvement every 1.39 games, or every 111.72 minutes.
Then, during his time with the u21s, he scored 18 goals and provided 14 assists in 55 appearances, totalling 3618 minutes, which is an average of a goal involvement every 1.71 games, or every 113.06 minutes.
In other words, the Havering-born gem is a dual threat: a goalscorer and a creator.
Appearances
60
55
Minutes
4804′
3618′
Goals
25
18
Assists
18
14
Goal Involvements per Match
0.71
0.58
Minutes per Goal Involvement
111.72′
113.06′
Moreover, with 40 appearances for Bristol City last season, during which he was named young player of the year, he has plenty of genuine first-team experience under his belt already.
With all of that said, the “priceless” youngster, as dubbed by coach Steve Potts, is primarily an attacking midfielder, and so it would make sense to play him there against Liverpool, which means the man who’d actually outright replace Guilherme is actually Paqueta.
Yes, the Brazilian is also primarily a central player, but has made 36 club appearances on the left-hand side in his career, as well as six for the Brazilian national team.
Anyway, having the former Lyon gem further forward could help make the team more dangerous in attack, while also allowing the 21-year-old to get up to speed in a more familiar position.
Ultimately, it is not ideal, but Guilherme made it clear against Bournemouth that he cannot start games at the moment. Therefore, bringing the incredibly talented Earthy into the middle and allowing Paqueta to play on the left could be the answer to Summerville’s absence – at least for now.
West Ham dealt Jarrod Bowen blow as Nuno faces fresh concern about star winger
The England international is their most crucial man by some distance.
Liverpool centre-forward Hugo Ekitike stole the headlines for the right and the wrong reasons in the club’s 2-1 win over Southampton in the League Cup on Tuesday night.
The France U21 international came off the bench to grab the winning goal against the Championship outfit, slotting into the back of the an empty net from Federico Chiesa’s ball across the box.
Unfortunately, the former Eintracht Frankfurt striker turned a joyous moment into a sour one, taking his shirt off to celebrate and earning himself a second yellow card in the process.
Ekitike will now be unavailable for Arne Slot when the Premier League champions travel to Selhurst Park to take on Crystal Palace on Saturday.
The Dutch head coach, as evidenced by his comments in the clip above, was less than pleased with his striker’s decision to take his shirt off after the goal.
Parking the silly red card to the side for a moment, Ekitike’s goal off the bench was reminiscent of former Reds forward Daniel Sturridge, who was an excellent super sub for the club.
Liverpool's best goalscoring substitutes of all time
The Reds have had some terrific goalscoring substitutes over the years, whether that has been a key player coming off the bench to make an impact on the rare occasion that they did not start, or a designated impact player who consistently contributed in cameos.
Sturridge played both of those roles at different times in his Liverpool career. He started off as a key player in the Brendan Rodgers era, forming a lethal front three with Luis Suarez and Raheem Sterling, but was more of an impact substitute in the Jurgen Klopp era.
Thanks to his cameos off the bench, largely under Klopp, the former England international currently ranks fourth in the all-time rankings for goals off the bench as a Liverpool player.
David Fairclough
18
Roberto Firmino
16
Mohamed Salah
14
Daniel Sturridge
13
Ryan Babel
12
Divock Origi
12
Diogo Jota
9
Steven Gerrard
8
Darwin Nunez
8
Djibril Cisse
7
As you can see in the table above, Sturridge only sits behind three players in the all-time rankings, two of them being Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, who were always key players but made their way up the list through longevity.
David Fairclough, who left the club in 1983 and may not be too familiar to many supporters in the current day, leads the list with a staggering 18 goals off the bench.
Sturridge was mainly a substitute during his time under Klopp in the Premier League, but was still able to contribute by playing his role well off the bench, making an impact on a regular basis as a substitute.
Whilst it was Ekitike who came off the bench in Sturridge fashion to score the winner against Southampton, it was one of the players who started the game who could be Slot’s own version of the English striker.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Federico Chiesa has not had too many opportunities to shine as a starter for the Reds since his move to the club from Juventus last year, but he caught the eye with an impressive showing against Southampton on Tuesday night.
Why Federico Chiesa can be Liverpool's next Daniel Sturridge
The Italy international started on the right flank for Liverpool and played a crucial role in the win for the home side, assisting Alexander Isak and Ekitike’s goals.
As shown in the clip above, Chiesa did brilliantly to read and intercept Alex McCarthy’s sloppy pass out from the back to get there before Josh Quarshie to tee Isak up for a simple finish.
The Italian forward later made a fantastic darting run in behind the Saints defence before unselfishly laying the ball off to Ekitike to score the winner by tapping the ball into an empty net.
Minutes
90
Pass accuracy
81%
Key passes
4
Big chances created
4
Assists
2
Dribbles completed
2/4
Duels won
5/8
Chiesa created a stunning four ‘big chances’ in the 90 minutes, per Sofascore, which is more ‘big chances’ than any Liverpool player has created in five Premier League matches so far this season.
The right-sided attacker is unlikely to take a starting spot off superstar Mohamed Salah, but the quality he has displayed when called upon suggests that Slot should utilise his talent off the bench more often.
Chiesa, as shown in the clip above, made a big impact off the bench in the Premier League earlier this season with a crucial goal against Bournemouth, putting his side 3-2 up in the match in the 88th minute.
The 27-year-old attacker only played six times in the top-flight last term, starting one game, but his form in limited minutes suggests that he deserves more opportunities to shine off the bench and become the new Sturridge as an impact substitute for Liverpool.
As writer Bence Boscak stated, Chiesa is “making an impact every time” he plays for the Reds with his quality off the bench or as a starter when selected. His return of seven goals and assists combined in 603 minutes for the club proves that.
The Italy international was unfortunate that one of his big moments off the bench meant very little in the end after he came off the bench to score in the League Cup final last season, only for it to end with a 2-1 win for Newcastle United.
Saved by Ekitike: Slot must drop 5/10 Liverpool star who lost the ball 15x
Liverpool left it late once again as they beat Southampton to advance to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.
ByAngus Sinclair Sep 24, 2025
The former Fiorentina star has shown that he can make a big impact when called upon, which is why Slot must continue to provide him with opportunities to shine in a Liverpool shirt, which will put him on course to become the new Sturridge at Anfield.
Manchester United fell to a disappointing defeat at Manchester City on Sunday, and Roy Keane didn’t mince his words when reviewing one Red Devils star’s performance.
Manchester United come unstuck in comprehensive derby defeat
Truthfully, the Red Devils were second-best by a considerable margin as they begin to deal with the fallout of a derby loss that has left them sitting 14th in the Premier League table.
Ruben Amorim will be the man who cops the majority of criticism, something that seems only natural as he has now won just eight of his opening 31 matches in the English top-flight, which isn’t a run of form that bodes well when factoring in the size of Manchester United.
ManchesterUnitedmanager Ruben Amorim talks to the fans after the match
Speaking on Premier League Productions, former Red Devils midfielder Owen Hargreaves was stunned that Kobbie Mainoo wasn’t chosen to start against Pep Guardiola’s men, claiming that he ended up being the best player on the pitch for the visitors in the end.
He stated: “Where do you start? There are a lot of issues. How Kobbie Mainoo doesn’t play in this team I’ll never know. He came on for that game and in half hour he was probably their best player, by a country mile. So first of all he’s got to play. Sesko is not ready. He scored lots of goals in Germany but he didn’t look ready today.”
The damage had already been done by that point, and plenty of Manchester United stars have come in for criticism after an unceremonious display.
Altay Bayindir and Manuel Ugarte were two culprits, though football is a team game and everyone needs to take their share of the blame as Manchester United look to bounce back against Chelsea this weekend.
While there is still every chance Amorim’s men can turn around their fortunes, Roy Keane was frank in his assessment of one star’s performance at the Etihad Stadium.
Luke Shaw earns the brunt of Roy Keane criticism after Man Utd defeat
Live on Sky Sports, Roy Keane indicated that Luke Shaw’s performance fell below expectations against Manchester City, citing his role in Phil Foden’s opening goal during proceedings, which the Irishman feels he could’ve done more to prevent.
He stated via The Mirror: “Very good from City, Doku and Foden. Timing perfect not getting in there too early. But United’s defending, the two midfielders beforehand are too square, and Shaw just gives up.
Wayne Rooney scores goal like Man Utd 2011 Champions League final in Seoul
Some players never lose their ability even after retirement…
BySean Markus Clifford Sep 14, 2025
“It’s a nice bit of skill, but Shaw’s an England international player. He’s got hundreds of games under his belt, he doesn’t even get his body position right. It’s like he has thrown the towel in.
“We know people can run off the back of Bruno, that’s been going on for years. But my goodness, even before that, you’ve got two midfielders – they are too square. One pass takes them out. Far too easy. Shaw just throws the towel in there.”
Although criticism of evidently talented players is sometimes harsh, Manchester United were culpable of lapses defensively and came up against a ruthless opponent who dispatched three of their four ‘big chances’ created to claim three points.
Ultimately, Manchester City are a side likely to contend for the title, and conceding countless opportunities is always likely to result in punishment, something that Shaw and his teammates will now hope to rectify.
Liverpool defied expectations when winning the Premier League last season, but now that they have been crowned champions and are strengthening in the summer transfer market, the wider lens on Arne Slot’s project will be heightened.
To put it another way, Liverpool have returned to the top of English football but must now prove they can defend their title while challenging for the bigger prizes across other fronts.
Mohamed Salah will no doubt have his eyes on the Champions League, while defeat to Newcastle United in March’s Carabao Cup final will fuel the desire to conquer one of England’s domestic tournaments, for sure.
With Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz already bagged and more yet to come, there are so many reasons to be excited for Liverpool fans right now, even if a number of first-teamers potentially face exits before the 2025/26 season arrives.
Most notably, Ibrahima Konate has rejected Liverpool’s latest contract offer, while Luis Diaz, 28, continues to be at the centre of exit rumours. If the Colombian winger is sold, sporting director Richard Hughes has worked with Slot to determine that Anthony Gordon is the perfect replacement.
Why Liverpool could sign Anthony Gordon
It almost feels like Gordon is fated to play in a Liverpool shirt at some stage of his career. Last summer, the Reds were interested in completing a deal, but for Newcastle’s success in avoiding financial breaches through less damaging means.
Anthony Gordon
Liverpool are well stocked on the left flank, but if Diaz is sold – Bayern Munich are the latest club to express an interest in the 28-year-old – a move could be revisited for the man who left the Anfield academy when he was just 11 years old.
Recent reports suggest Liverpool would need to cough up around £75m for the Three Lions star, but, aged 24, this could be a worthwhile investment for a tenacious and electric forward.
Such a move, as stated, hinges on Diaz leaving, and the same could be said at number nine, for Darwin Nunez has failed to bring it together under Slot’s wing and is heading for the door.
Alas, Nunez is set to leave. Napoli are set for crunch talks with Liverpool over the Uruguayan striker, paving the way for a superstar to head down the opposite direction.
Liverpool launch bid for striker
According to French journalist Sebastien Vidal, Liverpool have launched an official bid Napoli’s way for Victor Osimhen, who is back from a season-long loan with Galatasaray and expected to leave the club 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.
Despite Osimhen being one of the best strikers in the world, he fell out with the Serie A side, and there is no route back. The Italian champions, despite their stance, are unwilling to budge on their £64m valuation.
Well, in that case, Liverpool have offered Nunez and Federico Chiesa, both of whom are coveted by the Neapolitans, as makeweights, additionally putting £17m into the package.
Manchester United, Gala and Saudi Arabian clubs also linger in the race.
Why Liverpool should sign Victor Osimhen
We all know that FSG’s dream target is Alexander Isak, who was actually declared “the best striker in the world” last season by analyst Raj Chohan, but the Sweden star is understood to have been valued at £200m, an extortionate fee.
Newcastle United's AlexanderIsakcelebrates scoring their first goal
Osimhen, 26, would be a fantastic alternative, having proven himself across a number of years as being one of the most prolific marksmen on the continent and a trophy winner besides.
For sure, he probably didn’t envisage a season in the Turkish Super Lig this time 12 months ago, but the Nigeria international made the most of his season, scoring 37 goals across 41 outings, winning the league title and maintaining comparative prolificness across the span of his career.
Praised for his “world-class” finishing ability by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley, Osimhen would certainly prove an upgrade on Nunez, and indeed could be the perfect Isak alternative, for he is athletic and mobile too.
Napoli
133
76
18
Galatasaray
41
37
8
Lille
38
18
6
Charleroi
36
20
4
Wolfsburg
16
0
0
Of course, Osimhen no doubt misses that almost telepathic connection with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia at Napoli, the Georgian winger leaving Italy to sign for Paris Saint-Germain for £59m in January, but he could find a dance partner of a similar style in Gordon.
The pacy winger called himself a “nightmare for anyone” he comes up against last summer on England duty, having also averaged 1.1 dribbles and 4.4 successful duels per Premier League match last term, as per Sofascore.
With six goals and five assists to his name across the recent league term, there’s no question Gordon regressed after his incredible 2023/24 campaign, notching 26 top-flight goal contributions and earning Newcastle’s Player of the Year award.
One year ago, Dieter Hamann even went as far as to claim that Gordon would be the better pick for the Reds than Kvaratskhelia, directing praise toward the Englishman’s tried-and-tested record in England’s top flight; many talented players have struggled to adapt to the pace and physicality of the British game before.
He said, “It’s very hard to pick between Gordon and Kvaratskhelia. I don’t think there’s an awful lot between the players.”
Osimhen built quite the reputation with the silky winger, and we might be having a different conversation had Liverpool furthered their interest in the Georgian back in January, before he moved to Paris.
Alas, that door has closed. But no matter. If a dynamic and powerful centre-forward in Osimhen can be paired with a rising star in Gordon, Slot may well have the dream strikeforce to lead Liverpool to glory for many years to come.
Slot's answer to Mane: Liverpool chasing "monster" £70m Premier League star
Liverpool have set their sights on another attacking star this summer.
Yet again in his glorious Manchester City reign, Pep Guardiola is overseeing a rebuild. Following a largely underwhelming 2024/25 campaign, it is a case of out with the old and in with the new.
Indeed, having previously phased out the likes of Yaya Toure, Vincent Kompany, David Silva and Sergio Aguero in the past, the Catalan coach is now repeating the process in relation to his treble-winning side of 2023.
The great Kevin De Bruyne is on his way to Napoli by all accounts, while Kyle Walker – fresh from his own sojourn to Serie A – is expected to seal a permanent exit this summer, after eight years at the Etihad.
With doubts also emerging over the futures of Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish, among others, there could well be a fresh feel to the Citizens next season, having already begun the overhaul with four new additions in January.
Manchester City's JackGrealishon the substitutes bench
That quartet appear to be just the start of things, if recent reports are anything to go by, with the Premier League giants seemingly closing in on a first move of the window, amid the imminent arrival of Tijjani Reijnders.
Latest on Man City's transfer search
While the search to replace that man De Bruyne has dominated talk in recent weeks – amid interest in the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White and the Liverpool-bound, Florian Wirtz – a further priority also lies in finding a suitable partner for Rodri in that number eight berth.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The Manchester outfit did only recently fork out £50m for the signing of Nico Gonzalez from Porto, albeit with the Spaniard seemingly deemed as a replacement rather than a partner for his compatriot, having been dubbed a “mini-Rodri” by Guardiola.
With that in mind, sporting director Hugo Viana has turned his attention elsewhere in the bid to bolster those midfield ranks even further, with transfer guru Fabrizio Romano revealing that City have a “verbal agreement in place” for AC Milan star, Reijnders.
AC Milan's TijjaniReijndersreacts
The signing of the 26-year-old – for what is expected to be a package of around €70m (£59m) – could well be followed by the capture of Lyon’s Rayan Cherki, with Romano also outlining that personal terms have been agreed with the playmaker.
The suggestion is that City will lodge a bid “in the next hours” amid their desire to get the deal done, amid rival interest from Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund, with prior reports indicating that Cherki could be available for as little as £25m.
Why Cherki would be a good signing
It may go against the Guardiola grain to be signing a “maverick” talent like the Lyon starlet, as hailed by pundit Rio Ferdinand, although the Citizens are in need of a fresh creative source, in the wake of De Bruyne’s imminent exit.
With the aforementioned Grealish – and England teammate, Phil Foden – providing just 11 goals and assists between them in the Premier League last season, the onus is on finding a suitable supplier for main man, Erling Haaland.
In many ways, Guardiola’s side are still seeking to find a suitable successor to Riyad Mahrez in the forward line, with one-time Leicester City hero having racked up 78 goals and 59 assists in 236 games prior to his 2023 exit, a return that included 28 goal involvements in all competitions during his final season.
Described as a player who can “change the game” by his manager, the now 34-year-old was simply a genius during his time in English football, possessing a wand of a left foot and an ability to create something out of nothing down that right flank.
Those are traits which the veteran no doubt shares with young Cherki, with the France U21 international – who qualifies to play for Algeria, like Mahrez – also a creative weapon. Equally, like Mahrez too, the left-footer is comfortable operating down the right flank or in a number ten berth.
Rayan Cherki
Hailed as a “future Ballon d’Or winner” by The Athletic’s Alex Barker, Cherki is fresh off the back of a campaign that ended with a remarkable haul of 32 goals and assists from just 44 games, including 19 goals and assists in Ligue 1.
Such form in France’s top-flight saw the 21-year-old notably create 22 big chances and average 2.5 key passes per game, during his 30 league outings, as per Sofascore, having also averaged 1.6 successful dribbles as a sign of his breathtaking ability to beat his man.
Non-penalty goals
0.35
0.19
Assists
0.49
0.47
Shot-creating actions
6.44
5.44
Passes attempted
60.63
54.66
Pass completion
78.5%
82.2%
Progressive passes
9.08
3.56
Progressive carries
4.67
3.66
Successful take-ons
2.12
1.17
Touches in opposition box
5.82
5.16
Progressive passes received
8.11
11.34
When comparing his recent heroics with Mahrez’s final Premier League campaign, it is easy to see their statistical and stylistic likeness too, with the pair both ranking highly for assists and shot-creating actions per 90, indicating their unique ability to generate opportunities in the final third.
That desire to make things happen is also evident with regard to the ‘passes attempted’ metric, with that knack for conjuring a moment of magic seemingly needed to help replace the likes of the “predictable” Grealish, as described by Gary Neville.
With Mahrez having repeatedly delivered the goods for City in previous years, Guardiola could now find his heir apparent by plucking Cherki from Lyon.
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It has been a long and rather dismal campaign for Arsenal this season.
Mikel Arteta’s side have once again failed to claim the Premier League title, although instead of just losing out to Manchester City, they have fallen miles short of Arne Slot’s Liverpool.
Going into the final game of the season, the North Londoners are 12 points off the Reds and, perhaps even more worryingly, have scored 18 fewer goals.
Arsenal manager MikelArtetalooks dejected after the match
This evident weakness in the Gunners’ attack is something the board are clearly aiming to deal with in the summer, as reports have linked them to a whole host of incredibly talented players, including Nico Williams.
However, even with his lofty price tag, one of Arsenal’s own stars is worth millions more.
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Arsenal have been credited with an intense interest in Williams for the best part of a year now, and according to reports from earlier this month, he remains a ‘top priority’ ahead of the summer transfer window.
Athletic Bilbao'sNicoWilliamscelebrates scoring their third goal
The story confirms that the North Londoners will need to activate the release clause in his contract to bring him to the club, which stands at a cool £48m.
With that said, then, what is it about the young winger that has made him such a firm target for the Premier League runners-up?
First and foremost, he’s a direct left-winger who can both score and create goals with relative ease.
For example, in 37 appearances for the Athletic Bilbao last season, the Pamplona-born dynamo scored eight goals and provided 18 assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.42 games.
Spain'sNicoWilliamsin action with Netherlands' Jeremie Frimpong and Donyell Male
He’s not been quite as sensationally effective this season, but he’s still been a useful outlet, scoring 11 goals and providing seven assists in 44 games, which is an average of a goal involvement every 2.44 games.
On top of his raw output, he has also shown an ability to deal with the biggest games.
He opened the scoring for Spain in their European Championships Final triumph against England last summer and also provided an assist in the final of last season’s Copa de Rey, which Bilbao won.
In all, it would be fair to say that Williams more than justifies the price tag Arsenal would have to pay for him, although if he does join the club, he’d have to hit the ground running to see his valuation match that of one of his new teammates.
The Arsenal star worth millions more than Williams
To tell the truth, there are actually several players who are worth more than Williams in the Arsenal squad, but in this case, we are talking about one of the club’s breakout stars from this season: Ethan Nwaneri.
Yes, even though this year has been the teenager’s first proper taste of regular first-team football, he’s been so impressive that his valuation has skyrocketed.
For example, Football Transfers now value the 18-year-old at a whopping €74.3, which is about £63m, or around £15m more than the fee the Gunners have to pay to sign Williams.
Now, this might all sound rather absurd to some of you, but there are some reasons for this, chief among them being the fact that the often “unplayable” gem, as dubbed by Jack Wilshere, has already scored nine goals and provided two assists in 36 appearances, totalling 1303 minutes this season.
In other words, the Hale Ender is currently averaging a goal involvement every 3.27 games, or more importantly, every 118.45 minutes, which is undeniably brilliant.
Moreover, given how he’s adapted to senior football so seemingly, there is no telling what his ceiling may be.
With that said, how does he stack up with the Bilbao gem when we compare their underlying numbers from this season?
Non-Penalty G+As
0.66
0.47
Progressive Passes
3.30
3.19
Progressive Carries
4.84
5.31
Goals per Shot
0.18
0.10
Goals per Shot on Target
0.50
0.26
Passing Accuracy
80.2%
70.7%
Key Passes
1.32
1.83
Passes into the Penalty Area
1.43
1.31
Passes into the Final Third
1.76
1.08
Crosses into the Penalty Area
0.66
0.38
Shot-Creating Actions
2.41
5.12
Successful Take-Ons
3.52
2.96
Well, it might surprise some people to find out that overall, it’s the youngster who comes out on top, as in the majority of relevant metrics, he does better.
The metrics include, but are not limited to, non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes, goals per shot and shot on target, passes into the penalty area and final third, crosses into the penalty area, successful take-ons and more, all per 90.
Ultimately, Arsenal should do what they can to sign Williams this summer, as he looks like he could add some much-needed dynamism to their left-hand side.
Still, in Nwaneri, the club already have another young talent who could further establish himself in the first-team next season.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.