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With the 49ers set to complete a takeover of Rangers, Ibrox legend Ally McCoist has had his say on what they must change when they officially arrive amid rumours of a £25m transfer kitty.

McCoist tells new Rangers owners to hire sporting director

Following a disastrous campaign in the Scottish Premiership, in which they sit a world away from runaway leaders Celtic, Rangers must get things right on all fronts as the 49ers arrive for their first summer in charge. The new owners will be desperate to translate the Gers’ impressive European form into domestic victories next season in an attempt to bridge a growing gap on their Old Firm rivals.

Those at Ibrox have enjoyed contrasting form in the Europa League and enjoyed yet another moment to remember against Athletic Bilbao when Liam Kelly saved substitute Alex Berenguer’s penalty to help the 10-men of Rangers hold into a draw after Robin Propper’s early red card.

Before Rangers can enjoy such nights again in the Scottish Premiership, however, McCoist believes that the 49ers need to make one crucial change when they arrive.

Asked by Football FanCast how 49ers Enterpises can close the gap to Celtic after rumours of a £25m summer war-chest, McCoist said: “The first thing they have to do is clearly appoint somebody that they’re going to trust with potential finances. I would rather see them take their time if I’m to be brutally honest. I’d rather see hopefully new owners come in with a business plan, because it’s not gonna be an overnight fix. There’s no chance.”

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The Rangers legend went on to say: “Although changes are needed at Rangers, and some big ones, I don’t see them making them all at once. I see them coming in, taking their time, having a business plan, appointing someone and moving the club forward gradually.

“I think that’s a far better idea than just going out and spending money willy-nilly on four or five players. I think there has to be a business plan, you’ve gotta build and take it from there – a steady improvement all of the time.”

49ers must nail double appointment this summer

The frustration around Rangers is certainly justified and McCoist has been among those disappointed by just how far the Gers have fallen this season, from Philippe Clement’s reign to Barry Ferguson’s spell as interim manager.

Expressing that disappointment, McCoist said: “The disappointing thing for me has been the dramatic decline since they were a penalty kick away from winning the Europa League. It’s just went south very very quickly for whatever reasons. But I don’t think it’s gonna be an overnight fix. I just hope that the new owners can come in.”

Whilst their European exploits have remained, Rangers desperately need a long-term vision if they are to dethrone Celtic once again in the Scottish Premiership, and that all starts with getting the right men in the sporting director seat and in the dugout this summer.

Manchester United are now leading the race to sign a £30m “monster”, who scored at Old Trafford earlier this month, according to a report.

Man Utd eyeing new attacking midfielder

One of Man United’s main aims this summer is to strengthen their attacking options, and it appears as though they are now closing in on a move for Wolverhampton Wanderers star Matheus Cunha, with work ongoing to finalise a contract agreement.

Cunha is expected to be brought in to play in the number 10 role, but the Brazilian is not United’s only target in that area of the pitch, having made an approach for River Plate’s Franco Mastantuono, who has a €45m (£38m) release clause in his contract.

Earlier this month, it was revealed the Red Devils are also in the race for Lyon’s Rayan Cherki, who could be allowed to leave Lyon on the cheap this summer, given the difficult financial situation the French club find themselves in.

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There has now been a new update on Man United’s pursuit of Cherki, with a report revealing they are now leading the race for the Lyon star, alongside Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur, who are also frontrunners for his signature.

Bayern Munich and a number of other top European clubs are in the race for the attacking midfielder, and there is a feeling he could be available for a relatively low fee, with Lyon setting an asking price of around €30m -€35m (£25m – £30m).

The 21-year-old is ready to move on this summer, and he has set his sights on a move to the Premier League, with a view to continuing his development, having already made significant strides this season.

"Monster" Cherki enjoying incredible campaign

The Lyon forward appears to have developed considerably in the 2024-25 campaign, having amassed a remarkable 12 goals and 19 assists in 41 matches in all competitions, with one of those goals coming at Old Trafford in his side’s 5-4 Europa League loss earlier this month.

Freelance scout Ben Mattinson has also lavished the Frenchman with praise, describing him as a “creative monster capable of magical moments”, and he has performed incredibly well across a number of key metrics for attacking midfielders over the past year.

Statistic

Average per 90

Assists

0.59 (99th percentile)

Shot-creating actions

6.68 (98th percentile)

Progressive passes

8.97 (99th percentile)

Successful take-ons

2.72 (92nd percentile)

There is every sign that Cherki could be a fantastic signing for Man United this summer, although signing a new striker should be a priority, given that a deal for Cunha, who is set to play in attacking midfield, is now edging closer.

Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have failed to deliver this season, netting seven Premier League goals between them, and it appears as though Man United are now willing to cash-in on the Dane this summer.

Manchester United booked their place in the Europa League final last night, after a 4-1 win at Old Trafford against Athletic Club, building on their triumph from the first leg.

Goals from Mason Mount, Rasmus Hojlund and Casemiro secured the win for Ruben Amorim’s side, setting up a tie with fellow Premier League outfit Tottenham Hotspur.

The 7-1 aggregate victory demonstrated the clinical nature posed by the Red Devils, something which they will need to replicate if they are to claim the title at the end of the month.

Should they manage to once again win in Bilbao, it would secure Champions League football for the club, putting a superb end to what’s been a terrible season on the pitch.

Despite the convincing victory, numerous players failed to deliver at the Theatre of Dreams, potentially putting their places in the side at huge risk.

United’s poor performers against Athletic Club

After Diogo Dalot’s injury, Noussair Mazraoui was forced to operate in an unnatural right wing-back role, largely featuring as part of the back three since Amorim’s arrival.

The Moroccan failed to win any of the tackles he entered, whilst losing 100% of the ground duels he contested – with last night’s showing one to forget for the former Bayern Munich star.

He wasn’t alone in failing to impress, with forward Alejandro Garnacho once again falling way below the high levels of performance he’s set for himself at United.

The youngster only managed to complete one of his three attempted dribbles and only registered one effort on goal as he failed to add to his tally in Europe this campaign.

However, despite the showings from the aforementioned duo, one other Red Devils star failed to deliver, potentially becoming a new version of one other former failure at Old Trafford.

The United player who’s becoming the new Amrabat

Midfielder Sofyan Amrabat arrived at United with high hopes of being a success last season, but ultimately failed to deliver during his temporary spell at the club.

The Moroccan, who joined on loan from Fiorentina, featured for a total of 30 times across all competitions, often being utilised as a bench player and brought on late in matches.

However, despite his poor displays, he was useful in terms of seeing out games, managing to regain possession and winning 60% of the tackles he entered at Old Trafford.

Fast forward to the present day, Amorim has found his own version of the 28-year-old in Uruguayan Manuel Ugarte, who failed to impress once again last night.

The former PSG ace has been impressive during his early days at the club, managing to follow in Amrabat’s footsteps of impressing in regaining the ball for the Red Devils.

Last night was no different, winning two tackles and seven duels, managing to break up the play in the heart of the side – undoubtedly contributing to the victory.

However, with the ball at his feet, he struggled to make a huge impact, losing possession 15 times and managing to complete just 67% of the passes he attempted.

Manuel Ugarte’s stats for United against Athletic Club

Statistics

Tally

Minutes played

62

Touches

48

Passes completed

22/33 (67%)

Possession lost

15x

Tackles won

2

Duels won

7

Dribbles completed

1/2 (50%)

Stats via SofaScore

Ugarte also only competed 50% of the dribbles he attempted and was unable to make a single key pass, having little to no impact on the club’s goalscoring antics.

As a result, the midfielder was handed a measly 4/10 match rating by Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst – further highlighting how poor he was throughout the triumph.

After such a showing, it’s safe to say the Uruguayan could be on borrowed time within the starting eleven, with other options needing to be considered ahead of the final.

With nothing left to play for in the league, Amorim can use the matches as an opportunity to trial other players in such a role to bolster their ambitions of claiming the trophy in the coming weeks.

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Newcastle United have now submitted a significant bid for an “incredible” player, with Eddie Howe of the belief he would be a perfect fit in his midfield, according to a report.

Newcastle pushing for the Champions League

Regardless of whether Newcastle secure Champions League football, the 2024-25 season will always be remembered fondly by fans, having finally ended their 70-year wait to win a major honour, but they still remain in a strong position to seal a top-five finish.

The Magpies are sitting pretty in fourth place, two points clear of Nottingham Forest with just three Premier League games left to play, although their remaining fixtures are on the more difficult side, with matches against two direct rivals now on the horizon.

Newcastle’s remaining Premier League fixtures

Date

Chelsea (h)

May 11th

Arsenal (a)

May 18th

Everton (h)

May 25th

It could prove to be a difficult task, but should Howe’s side qualify for Europe’s elite competition, they should be able to attract some top players in the summer, with the likes of Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah and Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo believed to be of interest.

According to a report from Spain, Newcastle are also interested in a new midfielder, having submitted a €25m (£21m) bid for Girona maestro Yangel Herrera, who they are now determined to win the race for.

Atletico Madrid and top-five rivals Nottingham Forest are also interested in signing Herrera this summer, but the Magpies have now taken a firm step towards securing his signature, having put a strong offer on the table.

Howe believes the Venezuelan would fit perfectly into his side, and the manager is looking to introduce some additional quality into an already impressive midfield, with the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali attracting interest due to their performances this season.

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While Howe is not short on top-quality midfield options, there are clear signs the 27-year-old is a well-rounded midfielder, who could play an important role for the Magpies in a potential Champions League campaign next season.

The central midfielder has caught the eye in front of goal for Girona this term, registering four goals and three assists in La Liga, including a well-taken headed effort against Celta Vigo back in September.

Not only that, but the former New York City FC man impressed with his tackling ability in the early stages of his career, while also catching the eye due to his pass-success rate in the final third during the 2023-24 campaign.

Lauded as an “incredible player” by journalist Zach Lowy, there are plenty of signs that Herrera could be a success at a major European club, so it is a promising development that Newcastle have now made a concrete approach.

This summer is huge for Leeds United if they are to maintain their Premier League status after securing promotion from the Championship at the end of the season.

The Whites secured the title after registering a total of 100 points, edging out Scott Parker’s Burnley on goal difference on the final day of the campaign.

However, Daniel Farke has a massive task on his hands to keep them in the top-flight, with each team promoted in the last two campaigns all dropping back to their second tier at the first attempt.

If the club are to avoid being the next team on that list, investment is desperately needed in the squad at Elland Road to try and be competitive in what’s becoming a tricky division to perform in for newly-promoted outfits.

With the summer window rapidly approaching, the hierarchy have wasted no time in making moves in the transfer market to hand the manager with the tools he needs to survive in 2025/26.

The latest on Leeds’ hunt for new signings this summer

With the gap growing year-on-year in the Premier League, quality and experienced additions are needed to help Leeds be on the right side of the dotted line come May 2026.

The likes of Kyle Walker-Peters, Vladimir Coufal and Sean Longstaff have all been linked with a move to Elland Road – with all three having key experience in England’s top-flight.

However, a younger option has also been thrown into the mix in the form of Manchester City’s James McAtee, that’s according to TEAMtalk’s latest update.

Their report claims that the Whites have returned with an enquiry to land the 22-year-old after previously trying to make a move to sign him on loan last summer.

It also states that Pep Guardiola’s side have placed a £35m price tag on his head ahead of the upcoming window, with Nottingham Forest said to be edging Farke’s side in the hunt for his signature.

Why Leeds’ £35m target could be Farke’s next Buendia

During Farke’s previous rodeos in securing promotion from the second tier, he often relied on Argentine midfielder Emi Buendia, who starred during his spell under the German.

The attacking midfielder spent three years playing under his management, undoubtedly playing the best football of his career when playing for him at the Canaries.

He registered 59 combined league goals and assists during his three years at Carrow Road, undoubtedly being the manager’s shining light and main source of creativity.

Buendia was even linked with a switch to link up with his former boss at Elland Road during the January transfer window, but a move never materialised with the 28-year-old moving to Bayer Leverkusen on loan instead.

However, he could be about to land his next version of the star this summer with a deal for McAtee, with the City ace having the tools to produce the goods in Yorkshire.

The 22-year-old, who’s been labelled “special” by current boss Guardiola, has scored seven goals across all competitions this campaign, able to hand the Whites the added threat in the final third.

His underlying stats have been just as impressive, registering 3.9 shots per 90, with 1.9 of which on target – highlighting his impressive nature in front of goal.

James McAtee’s stats for Manchester City in 2024/25

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

27

Goals scored

7

Pass accuracy

84%

Shots taken

3.9

Shots on target

1.9

Chances created

1.2

Touches in opposition box

5.8

Stats via FotMob

He’s also managed to provide the goods for other teammates in the final third, completing 84% of the passes he’s attempted to date – creating 1.2 chances per 90, able to create carnage just like Buendia did under Farke’s guidance at Norwich.

Whilst £35m could be a huge fee for such a young talent, it’s a deal worth pursuing for the Whites, having the potential to burst onto the scene and explode under the manager’s guidance.

McAtee has already demonstrated with limited minutes at the Etihad this season that he’s capable of producing the goods, potentially taking his game to the next level with consistent minutes under Farke in Yorkshire.

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Newcastle United are now planning to hold face-to-face talks over a summer deal for an “unbelievable” forward this week, according to a report.

Magpies eyeing new forwards with Wilson heading for exit

It would be fair to say Callum Wilson has been a fantastic servant to Newcastle, with the striker making 129 appearances for the club, but it looks as though his time at St. James’ Park is now set to come to an end when his contract expires this summer.

The Englishman has suffered with injuries throughout the campaign, while often being limited to appearances as a substitute, and he is now starting to attract attention from elsewhere, with Leeds United believed to be leading the race for his signature.

As such, Eddie Howe’s side have now started to run the rule over potential replacements, with the manager particularly keen on signing versatile Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo, who is among the Premier League’s top scorers this season.

Player

Premier League goals

Mohamed Salah

28

Alexander Isak

23

Erling Haaland

21

Chris Wood

19

Bryan Mbeumo

19

Mbeumo is not the only Premier League forward of interest, however, with a report from talkSPORT revealing Newcastle are now planning to hold face-to-face talks over a deal for Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap this week.

Delap is planning to hold in-person discussions with all his potential suitors ahead of the summer window, and the Magpies are the latest English side to express an interest in triggering the £30m release clause in his contract.

Howe is keen on bringing in another striker to ease the goalscoring burden on Alexander Isak, with the manager looking to strengthen his squad in a number of different areas this summer.

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Understandably, Wilson’s game time has been very limited this season, given that Isak has enjoyed his best season to date in a Newcastle shirt, leading his side to EFL Cup glory and scoring 27 goals in all competitions.

However, the Ipswich star has also started to make a name for himself this season, finding the back of the net 12 times in the Premier League, with teammate Luke Woolfenden lauding him as “unbelievable”.

Howe has also been impressed by the start the 22-year-old has made to life in the Premier League, saying: “He’s a pivotal player for [Ipswich], there’s no denying that. I think he’s had a very good season. “He’s got big strengths, very strong, powerful runner.”

The only concern for Newcastle will be that Delap may not be tempted to move to St. James’ Park this summer if he doesn’t have guarantees of being a regular starter, and that is unlikely to be the case unless Isak decides to move on.

Leeds United did manage to seal the Championship title with a bumper 100 points come the end of the 46-game marathon, but Daniel Farke’s side certainly made life a lot harder for themselves in the goalkeeper department.

Illan Meslier’s error-prone performances between the sticks nearly proved costly, resulting in the German having to bring in stand-in keeper Karl Darlow for the final few tense clashes of the second-tier campaign.

Whilst the ex-Newcastle United stopper did prove himself to be a solid performer in goal, it’s unlikely that Farke will solely rely on the Wales international to be his outright number one in such a daunting division.

Therefore, a whole host of new faces are being linked to step up and take on the first team mantle in goal, with this alternative target now being tipped to make the switch to Elland Road over the heavily fancied Caoimhin Kelleher.

Leeds' pursuit of a new keeper

Kelleher is one of the main names being touted to become Farke’s brand-new number one ahead of Premier League football returning to West Yorkshire, with the Irishman reportedly available for around the £30m mark.

He is mentioned as a possible Meslier replacement by the Daily Mail too, but the new report from the Mail does suggest that other top-flight experienced ‘keepers are on the Leeds agenda, such as ex-Arsenal man Aaron Ramsdale.

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ reserve keeper Sam Johnstone is also floating about as a potential number one option, but if Leeds want to land an even more impressive buy than Kelleher, they should be going all in for Ramsdale over other figures.

The 27-year-old has suffered from shaky performances here and there, but he was once Mikel Arteta’s concrete first-team choice at Arsenal, where he proved himself as a top performer at an intimidating level.

Why Ramsdale would be even better than Kelleher

Of course, Kelleher has never been able to prove himself as a number-one option at Anfield, having always played in the shadows to the likes of Allisson.

But, regardless of whether he’s been given a fair crack under Arne Slot and other Reds bosses or not, if Leeds can land a far more experienced keeper at the level in Ramsdale for a slightly cheaper £25m, it feels like a pick-up they should prioritise over the promise of the 26-year-old coming good as a main starting presence.

At one point during his topsy-turvy Gunners career, Ramsdale was on cloud nine with his imperious displays in between the sticks, with this unbelievable save coming during the 2021/22 campaign that saw the ex-Sheffield United stopper collect an impressive 12 clean sheets from 34 league outings.

Heralded as “phenomenal” by ex-Arsenal legend David Seaman off the back of his glimpses of quality at the Emirates, it will just be up to Ramsdale to try and reach these lofty heights once more, donning a Leeds strip.

After all, he is well accustomed to the trials and tribulations of a relegation battle, having just accumulated a high 4.2 saves per Premier League tie for basement side Southampton.

Ramsdale’s overall PL numbers

Stat

Ramsdale

Games played

183

Matches won

70

Losses

89

Saves made

595

Penalties saved

3x

Errors leading to goals

6x

Goals conceded

278

Clean sheets

41

Stats from the Premier League

The table above definitely reinforces how experienced Ramsdale is in the Premier League, despite only being a year older than Kelleher, with a near 200 games now played in the elite division. To add context, as a back-up face at Liverpool, his Cork-born counterpart has barely hit 30 clashes at 25 overall.

Therefore, whilst he will have an error in his back locker like Meslier, Leeds fans would surely feel more confident that the 27-year-old would come good over the gamble of Kelleher at £30m.

It will be fascinating to see who the Whites do eventually pick up in his vital position, knowing they cannot rely on Meslier if they are to beat the drop.

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Still on the hunt for attacking reinforcements, Manchester United are now reportedly open to offering Joshua Zirkzee in a summer swap deal to sign one particular target worth a hefty £85m.

Man Utd could face Gyokeres and Mbeumo rejection

Whilst their recruitment of Matheus Cunha gave them plenty of hope that last season’s failure wouldn’t stand in the way of much-needed additions this summer, Viktor Gyokeres and Bryan Mbeumo could quickly flip that narrative.

It’s a fairly open secret that the Red Devils are in pursuit of the duo, with Fabrizio Romano even going as far as to suggest that they’ve been constantly contacting Gyokeres, but that pursuit could yet end in failure.

Thomas Frank’s move to Tottenham Hotspur has suddenly seen the North London side come sprinting into the race for Mbeumo’s signature and reports are claiming that the Lilywhites have met the forward’s £70m price tag. United, meanwhile, have already seen one bid rejected for the Brentford star.

Losing out on two attacking targets would be a frustrating blow for United, but losing out to two rivals in Arsenal and Tottenham would add further salt to their wounds.

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Those at Old Trafford may have no choice but to dust themselves off and go again, however. Just who they turn to if they miss out on Mbeumo and Gyokeres is the big question. On that front, names such as Antoine Semenyo and an impressive £85m striker have already been mentioned among those that United may begin to chase.

Man Utd open to swap deal for Ekitike involving Zirkzee

That £85m name is of course Hugo Ekitike. According to Caught Offside, Manchester United are now open to offering Joshua Zirkzee in a swap deal to sign Ekitike. Eintracht Frankfurt reportedly value the Frenchman at €100m (£85m), but the inclusion of Zirkzee in any deal could help bring that hefty figure down.

League stats 24/25 (via FBref)

Hugo Ekitike

Joshua Zirkzee

Minutes

2,563

1,402

Goals

15

3

Assists

8

1

Expected Goals

21.6

4.8

Whilst there may well be a concern over just how much Ekitike has underperformed when it comes to matching his expected goals, there’s no doubt that he’d be an instant upgrade on Zirkzee for Ruben Amorim this summer.

The Dutchman struggled to leave his mark in his debut season, making it harder and harder to justify his £105,000-a-week salary. Now, just one year later, he could find himself replaced and shown the exit door in one swift move.

Described as “strong” by analyst Ben Mattinson, who was full of praise for the Frenchman back in March, Ekitike is undoubtedly one to watch this summer. He won’t come cheap, but if Manchester United can find a way past the forward’s hefty price tag, then he is one that they should prioritise.

Liverpool are in the market for forwards this summer, and they’ve already agreed a £100m deal for Florian Wirtz (which could rise to a British-record £116m).

Wirtz, 22, is a “truly generational talent”, as per sports media professional Cristian Nyari, and he’s only going to get better, having led Bayer Leverkusen to the 2023/24 Bundesliga title (winning the division’s Player of the Year), and breathing life into his side whenever he collects the ball, gambolling his way into the danger area.

Liverpool have got themselves a player, all right, and Arne Slot now has an elite-level playmaker in the attacking third of the field – all the more important with Trent Alexander-Arnold signing for Real Madrid.

Though FSG would like to turn their attention toward the front of the pitch, there’s little question that a replacement for Luis Diaz would need to be sourced, should he leave this summer.

It’s for this reason that rumours have gathered apace regarding Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon.

Why Liverpool want Anthony Gordon

Last summer, Liverpool were offered the chance to sign Gordon as Newcastle sweated over PSR; after failing to qualify for Europe, the Magpies were forced to stare at their jewels and decide which to sell.

Liverpool were curious, but Newcastle found other ways to offset their troubles, selling more outlying members of Eddie Howe’s squad.

Now, the Merseysiders are keen once again, and Newcastle might be open to selling if their £100m valuation is met.

Liverpool are hardly going to meet such exorbitant demands, but if Diaz does leave, with suitors in Barcelona and the Saudi Pro League, then Reds intrigue in their former academy member, who left and joined Everton when he was 11, could take a more solid shape.

Would Liverpool be getting bang for their buck by signing Gordon for such a figure? Would they really? What about an alternative, one who would arrive for a similar fee but pack a far meatier punch under Slot’s wing?

Liverpool leading race for Diaz heir

Liverpool could sign an even bigger talent than Gordon if they advance their long-standing interest in Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, with Spanish reports claiming that the Brazilian forward could be sold for €90m (£77m) this summer.

More to the point, the Anfield side are considered alongside Manchester City to be the favourites in the race for the talented winger, though further Premier League sides are keen. Arsenal, in previous reports, have been credited with an interest.

Coming off the back of a difficult year, both Slot and Pep Guardiola believe a poor Club World Cup campaign could leave Rodrygo isolated, and with his valuation slashed toward a more agreeable €75m (£64m) ballpark.

How Rodrygo would perform for Slot

Picture this: it’s a decade ago, and Liverpool have fallen by the wayside under Brendan Rodgers. The staple of Liverpool’s summer 2015 transfer window was the £32.5m acquisition of Christian Benteke from Aston Villa.

Ten years later and Liverpool are among the frontrunners for superstars like Rodrygo, having won two Premier League titles, the Champions League and plenty more across the intervening years.

It was over ten years ago that Liverpool released Gordon when he was a youngster, and though the England international is talented and a boyhood fan of the club, Rodrygo is the superior player, even if he only notched 14 goals and ten assists across 51 matches last season.

That’s not exactly a terrible haul, though the 24-year-old did only score six goals and six assists across the La Liga season, albeit missing just one big chance in front of goal, as per Sofascore, to emphasise his clinical ability.

The crux of Rodrygo’s Madrid malaise is that he’s routinely fielded out on the right, despite feeling the alternate flank as being his best position. Indeed, the right-footer has been far more prolific when playing as a left winger.

Rodrygo – Real Madrid Stats by Position (24/25)

Position

Apps

Goals

Assists

Right winger

29

7

4

Left winger

12

6

6

Centre-forward

8

0

0

Stats via Transfermarkt

The problem, however, is that Vinicius Junior holds down the fort in that area, with focal frontman Kylian Mbappe also preferring the left side to the right, as can be observed through his league season heatmap.

Given that Mohamed Salah is staying at Liverpool for the next two years, it hardly seems likely that Liverpool would make a marquee move and bring Rodrygo into the fold just for him to play second fiddle to the Egyptian.

Instead, he could replace Diaz, who, at 28, isn’t indispensable, and prove an upgrade on Gordon, with the 24-year-old also enduring something of a tough term in front of goal for the Toon, equal to Rodrygo in that he posted six goals and six assists in the Premier League.

As Liverpool plan to foray deep into next year’s Champions League knockout stage, putting themselves on a platform to claim number seven, Rodrygo would be the perfect fit, for his pedigree on the biggest stage speaks for itself.

Gordon failed to register a goal involvement across his six games in the 2023/24 Champions League, and while he’ll have the chance to rectify that over the coming year, Rodrygo is tried and tested, hailed as a “special striker” who can “play in all positions” by former Los Blancos boss Carlo Ancelotti.

A fierce blend of speed, skills and strength, Rodrygo would be a statement signing for a Liverpool side who are undergoing a good amount of change this summer. While the Brazil star would be a new part, he’d arrive with a wealth of experience at the highest level, and Slot’s sharp tactics would surely whip him back into an elite standard.

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair Jun 16, 2025

Thomas Frank has a massive job on his hands at Tottenham Hotspur for the 25/26 campaign.

On top of having to navigate the Champions League, the Danish coach will be expected to lead the team to a far better finish in the Premier League, as well as making a proper dent in the domestic cup competitions.

To ensure the former Brentford boss has the best chance of making his first season at the club a successful one, Daniel Levy and Co need to do everything they can to bring in the right players this summer.

One of the names that has been in the news a lot lately is Antoine Semenyo, although, based on recent reports, Spurs could go after someone who’d be an even better signing.

Spurs moving after Premier League star

Semenyo has seemingly caught the attention of several Premier League sides this summer, from Manchester United to Arsenal, but the links to Spurs in recent weeks appear to be some of the strongest.

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It’s not hard to understand why so many teams would be interested in the Bournemouth star, as he’s proven himself in the league and managed to rack up a pretty impressive haul of 20 goal involvements in 42 appearances this season.

Yet, with reports suggesting he would cost the North Londoners upwards of £70m, the club has also been looking for other exciting options, such as players like Eberechi Eze.

At least that’s according to a recent report from journalist Sebastien Vidal, who has claimed that Spurs are “plotting a move for” the Crystal Palace star.

Vidal mentions that Semenyo and Bryan Mbeumo are also on the North Londoners’ shortlist, as Frank is “pushing for a top winger this summer.”

While a price isn’t mentioned in the story, it has been widely reported this year that the Englishman has a release clause worth around £68m in his contract with the Eagles.

It wouldn’t be a cheap transfer, but given Eze’s experience and ability, he’d be a better signing than Semenyo.

Why Eze would be a better signing than Semenyo

So then, the first reason, and it’s a big one, why Eze would be a better signing than Semenyo is down to his raw output.

For example, the Cherries star’s 20 goal involvements came in 42 appearances, totalling 3562 minutes, which means that he was able to maintain an average of a goal involvement every 2.1 games, or every 178.1 minutes.

In contrast, the Eagles “magician,” as dubbed by pundit Micah Richards, scored his 14 goals and provided his 11 assists in 43 appearances, totalling just 3303 minutes, which comes out to a far more impressive average of a goal involvement every 1.72 games, or every 132.12 minutes.

Moreover, the Englishman has proven that he can cope in the most intense and pressurised moments, as he scored in the semi-final FA Cup against Aston Villa and then scored the winning goal against Manchester City in the final.

On top of that, while the 26-year-old primarily played in attacking midfield this season, he’s more than capable of playing out wide as well, which somewhat helps to minimise Semenmyo’s advantage in being able to play on both sides of the pitch.

Finally, comparing the pairs’ underlying numbers only further helps to highlight how much more impactful the former QPR star could be in North London.

While there are some metrics in which he comes out second best, there are far more in which the England international is clearly superior, including things like key passes, successful take-ons and shot-creating actions, which paints the picture of an all-action attack-focused player who’s just as capable starting attacks as he is finishing them.

Eze vs Semenyo

Statistics per 90

Eze

Semenyo

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.53

0.44

Non-Penalty G+As

0.68

0.46

Progressive Passes

3.37

3.06

Progressive Carries

2.40

3.93

Shots

3.25

3.49

Goals per Shot

0.12

0.09

Shots on Target

0.92

1.11

Goals per Shot on Target

0.41

0.27

Passing Accuracy

74.2%

73.4%

Key Passes

2.01

1.29

Passes into the Final Third

1.70

1.38

Passes into the Penalty Area

1.35

1.26

Shot-Creating Actions

4.69

3.71

Goal-Creating Actions

0.35

0.37

Successful Take-Ons

2.33

1.94

Ball Recoveries

5.07

4.44

Carries

29.2

27.5

All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 Season

Ultimately, while Semenyo would be a good signing for Spurs, Eze would undoubtedly be an even better one, and for potentially £2m less, one that feels like a total no-brainer.

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Posts ByEthan Lamb Jun 23, 2025