Celtic pair Tom Rogic and Nir Bitton are leaving because they struggle to play under Ange Postecoglou, according to ex-Hoops striker Frank McAvennie.
The Lowdown: Rogic and Bitton exit
The Hoops have just finished a glorious 2021/22 season, winning the Scottish Premiership title and also enjoying Scottish League Cup success.
It looks set to be a busy summer at Parkhead, with players coming in and out and Postecoglou sure to be looking at refreshing his squad ahead of the challenge of facing Europe’s elite in the Champions League.
Rogic and Bitton are two individuals who are definitely moving on, with the former indicating as much and the latter’s contract expiring next year, as the pair’s departures were confirmed last week.
Speaking to Football Insider, McAvennie claimed that their exit is partly because they are unable to excel in Postecoglou’s playing style now:
“Everyone knows how I feel about Rogic, he is a wonderful talent. He’s 29 and he’s been here nine years. He sees what is happening. Bitton has been a bit-part player but he has still been important.
“They see the way the manager is going. It’s all about a high press and running and these two boys aren’t the guys for that.
“You have Turnbull coming back to full fitness and other players will come in this summer so it just makes sense for them to move on this summer.
“The fans gave them all the respect in the world and they gave them the send-off they deserve. I’m delighted the club did it the right way because they deserve that.”
The Verdict: Makes some sense
Rogic has racked up seven league titles and five Scottish Cups during his time at Parkhead and been an incredible servant for so long, but McAvennie’s comments certainly hold some truth.
Postecoglou demands lots of energy in his players – something that Rogic and Bitton can’t necessarily guarantee week in, week out these days.
They are now 29 and 30, respectively, and it could be that younger legs will come in during the summer and be more effective in the manager’s system.
In other news, Kieran Devlin has talked up a potential Celtic signing. Read more here.
Manchester United have asked for ‘official information’ regarding a possible mega-money move for Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.
The Lowdown: Cavani set to depart
Erik ten Hag looks set to be extremely busy this summer when it comes to incomings and outgoings and appear to be in the market for a marquee forward.
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A number of players are out of contract at Old Trafford at the end of June, including Edinson Cavani, who looks set to leave after two seasons in Manchester.
Osimhen, who former United striker Odion Ighalo described as ‘the future’, seems to be a forward on Ten Hag’s radar, but it could be an expensive transfer.
The Latest: Osimhen update
Sports Witness relayed an update from Corriere dello Sport regarding United and Osimhen. They claim that United are in the lead for the Nigerian’s signature and have now asked for ‘official information’ on a figure.
Napoli have reportedly told United that there is a €110m (£93.6m) starting point, with the Serie A side not willing to go below €100m (£85.1m).
The Verdict: A lot of money…
United are reportedly willing to hand Ten Hag a £100m budget and are keen on looking at potential free agents. Therefore, spending a large percentage of his budget on Osimhen may not be the best idea.
Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong is expected to be a major target, and while Cristiano Ronaldo could be the only centre-forward available to Ten Hag when he arrives, should Cavani depart, splashing the entire remaining budget on Osimhen would leave the squad bare in other areas.
A major rebuild at Old Trafford is required and the club are seemingly extremely keen on signing de Jong, so pursuing someone like Paulo Dybala on a free transfer instead of Osimhen for £90m+ could be a wiser move.
In other news: Man Utd now working to sign ‘underrated’ defender in £38.5m move; offer ‘imminent’
Newcastle United will be looking to play their part in the Premier League title race as they face Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium today.
The Magpies lost 1-0 to Liverpool last time out and now come up against the reigning champions away from home. A win for the Toon will hand the Reds a major boost in their pursuit of the title and improve their own chances of finishing in the top half.
Eddie Howe’s men had won four consecutive games prior to their clash with Jurgen Klopp’s side and will be hoping to resurrect that form for this meeting with Pep Guardiola.
One player that the 44-year-old must brutally axe from the starting XI is Joe Willock after his disappointing display last week.
Howe must axe Willock
Freddie Ljungberg previously dubbed the midfielder as “passive”, and that is exactly what he was against Liverpool. As per SofaScore, the 22-year-old lost four of his seven duels and only completed seven passes in his 67 minutes on the pitch. He also had just 19 touches and failed in 100% of his attempted dribbles.
In the Premier League this season, he has lost 60% of his aerial battles and 52% of his individual duels. This shows that he has been a lightweight throughout the campaign as he has failed to outmuscle the opposition on a regular basis.
His lack of strength in the middle of the park means that he can be a passenger in games, as he is unable to hold his own weight against teams who use their physique to their advantage. This is why the £80k-per-week dud must be dropped for today’s match, as he would likely be dominated by the Manchester City players.
Rodri has won 69% of his aerial battles and 56% of his duels overall in the top flight. This suggests that the Spaniard will be able to dominate Willock if it comes down to a physical confrontation between the two in the middle of the pitch.
The ex-Arsenal man has also not done enough in possession to make up for his weak play off the ball. He has scored two goals and failed to provide a single assist this season, which means that he has not made enough of an impact in the final third to warrant a start for this particular match-up when his lack of strength could be his downfall.
AND in other news, Imagine him & Bruno: Howe must land NUFC swoop for £17.1m gem who “radiates calmness”…
Newcastle United reportedly now face an uphill battle to sign Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the summer.
The Lowdown: Enquiry made
It has been reported that both the St. James’ Park faithful and Arsenal have now made an enquiry over the possibility of signing Calvert-Lewin this summer, as he is almost certainly going to leave Goodison Park if they end up getting relegated from the Premier League.
Unfortunately for the England international, his season has been hit by constant injuries, but he has shown his credentials in previous campaigns at the Merseyside club (Transfermarkt), while Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has even gone as far as to claim that the striker is ‘one of the best‘ in his position.
Thus, it is no surprise that Calvert-Lewin is subject to interest from a number of clubs in the top flight.
The Latest: Arsenal preferred
As per Football Insider, a recruitment source has now revealed that Calvert-Lewin has ‘told friends’ that he would prefer a move to the Gunners over the Magpies, and that he is ‘likely’ to leave the Toffees this summer, whether they end up relegated or not.
The Tyneside outfit may be able to compete with Mikel Arteta’s team in terms of how much money they can offer, but if the North London club end up qualifying for the UEFA Champions League, they will likely face an uphill battle to convince Calvert-Lewin to sign for them instead.
The Verdict: Don’t panic
There is no need for the Toon to panic if Calvert-Lewin decided to move to the Emirates Stadium ahead of St. James’ Park.
Given his injury problems this term, Eddie Howe may want to think twice about whether the 25-year-old would be worth the price tag, which should be heightened given his age and the fact that he is an English international.
Nonetheless, they will have plenty of other quality targets to look at, like Victor Osimhen and Hugo Ekitike, and so the board should just take their time with regards to Calvert-Lewin’s situation.
In other news, find out which ‘world-class’ Champions League winner NUFC are now eyeing here!
Although Arsenal sit top of the Premier League and three points clear of their closest challengers, Mikel Arteta has been ranked outside of the top 10 best managers in the world by one pundit.
The numbers behind Arsenal's early dominance
Many have been quick to criticise how Arsenal have reached top spot in the Premier League, but the numbers don’t lie. Whilst champions Liverpool saw their crown slip for a fourth game on the bounce against Manchester United, the Gunners enjoyed the control that Arne Slot has been desperate to grasp all season long.
Arteta’s side never looked in doubt against Fulham – an opponent they’ve struggled against in the past – and the numbers tell the story of a team finally ready to take their turn at the top.
As highlighted by statistician Scott Willis, Arsenal have never conceded such low-quality chances than so far this season. They have suffocated opposition attacks and have conceded just three goals in eight games.
Meanwhile, they’ve not exactly been disappointing going in the other direction. In fact, only three sides have recorded more expected goals than the Gunners in the Premier League this season. Arteta’s side have an XG of 15.73 and have matched that with 15 Premier League goals.
It is all coming together in North London just when Liverpool are beginning to slip and Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City continue to have their own defensive fragilities at times. Yet, for all their good work, it’s not enough for one Sky Sports pundit to rank Arteta in his top 10 of current managers.
Arteta doesn't make O'Hara's top 10 managers
Speaking to Sky Sports, former Tottenham Hotspur man Jamie O’Hara said that Arteta is not a top 10 manager in world football, claiming that the likes of Oliver Glasner are better.
In a brutal verdict, O’Hara also went onto name Xabi Alonso, Vincent Kompany, Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti when speaking about managers he believes are better than Arteta.
However, he did also claim that the Arsenal boss is likely to be in that bracket one day, but is still getting there. Whether that verdict changes by the time that May arrives will be interesting to see.
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Mikel Arteta must make some changes to his team ahead of a big week for Arsenal.
ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 21, 2025
Whilst the likes of Alonso and Kompany have impressed in recent years and have earned their place among the best, Arteta’s complete Arsenal transformation should end any doubters who share O’Hara’s current opinion.
The glory hasn’t always followed, but Tottenham Hotspur have had some truly world-class stars play for them over the last ten to 15 years.
The one who was able to cement his legacy with a trophy was Son Heung-min, but the likes of Harry Kane, Mousa Dembélé and Luka Modrić were just as brilliant for the North Londoners.
However, when it comes to a combination of otherworldly talent and entertainment value, it’s hard to look past Gareth Bale.
The Welshman transformed into one of the best players in the world at Spurs, and it now looks like the club might have a new version of him.
Bale's rise at Spurs
Ask any Spurs fan what season Bale hit his peak at the club, and the vast majority will say his final season, 12/13.
That campaign saw the Welshman reach levels nobody really knew he could, as he scored 26 goals and provided ten assists in just 44 appearances, totalling 3,891 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal or assist every 1.22 games, or every 108.08 minutes.
Such a ludicrous rate of return for a team that only finished fifth was enough for Real Madrid to come sniffing, and one world record bid of £85m later, the Spanish giants got exactly what they wanted.
However, while the memory of the international legend at Spurs is a great one, things were not always so straightforward for him, nor was he always such a goal machine.
In fact, when the club signed him from Southampton in May 2007, he wasn’t even an attacker; he was a highly rated full-back.
That’s the position he continued to play, through injuries and poor form, for a couple of years in North London, until, partway through the 09/10 season, Harry Redknapp decided to move him up the pitch and play him on the wing.
The rest, as they say, is history, and while Spurs might not have another winger as devastatingly effective as Bale, they might have another international in the making who could be as good in their own position.
Spurs' new Bale
Spurs have several exciting young talents com
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
ing through the academy at the moment, from Luca Williams-Barnett to Oliver Irow, but there is one out on loan who could just be the best of the lot.
That youngster is, of course, Luka Vušković, who is currently on a season-long loan with Bundesliga side Hamburg, and by all accounts, is having an exceptional season so far.
In fact, the Croatian wonderkid has just been named the league’s rookie of the month, and has clearly won over the fans, with content creator Fiago claiming that he’s “the best 18-year-old center back I’ve ever seen in my life.”
That’s not all, though, as not long after the Lilywhites originally signed the youngster, respected analyst Ben Mattinson described him as a “freak athlete” and a “freak talent” with a “scary ceiling,” which sounds quite Bale-esque.
Combine these raving reviews with the fact that he’s currently playing in defence, still incredibly young, and has proven himself to be something of an attacking force over the last year or so, and the comparison is easy to make.
For example, in 36 appearances for KVC Westerloo last season, the Split-born titan scored seven goals and provided three assists, and in just four appearances this year, he has already opened his account.
Appearances
36
4
Minutes
2965′
360′
Goals
7
1
Assists
3
0
Goal Involvements per Match
0.27
0.25
Minutes per Goal Involvements
296.5′
360′
Finally, he has already won a senior cap for Croatia, so it looks like he’s set to dominate on the domestic and international scene for a long time to come.
Ultimately, Vušković is unlikely to become a winger like Bale, but there is arguably even more hype around him today than around the Welshman when he joined Spurs, and he looks set for superstardom.
Spurs sold "phenomenal" striker for just £7m, now he's as prolific as Kane
The incredible striker Spurs sold is starting to play like Harry Kane.
Russell Martin retains belief that Rangers will come good in the long run after beginning their Europa League campaign with a 1-0 Ibrox defeat to Genk.
Gers midfielder Mohamed Diomande was shown a straight red card in the 41st minute for his challenge on Zakaria El Ouahdi. In added time in the first half, Gers keeper Jack Butland saved a penalty from former Celtic striker Oh Hyeon-gyu, but the South Korean eventually opened the scoring in the 55th minute and it proved to be the winner.
Martin, who had no complaints about the red card, has won four times in 14 games since he took over in the summer and the remaining fans in the crowd of 37,898 – the lowest in a European game at Ibrox since Rangers came back to the top flight – chanted against him at the final whistle.
When asked what gave him continuing confidence, he said: “Well, the way the players train, the way they stick together in the second half, the feeling inside the training ground, so I can’t control anything else apart from that. We will work, learn from tonight.
“Have a bit of perspective on tonight and how difficult it was after the red card. Because whether you like it or not, it changes a lot when you are down to 10 men for so long in a game in a European tie.“So, learn from it, especially the first half, where we hurt ourselves a little bit and got trapped too much.
Fewer touches than Butland: Rangers man was just as bad as Diomande vs Genk
Rangers began their Europa League campaign with a 1-0 defeat to Genk, but the sent off Mohamed Diomandé as not the only man to blame for this defeat.
Sep 26, 2025
“And then get ready to prepare and perform and win on Sunday. I’m disappointed we lose. The red card changed the game a lot. I was looking forward to getting to half-time. We had a few key points across to help the performance.
“We started fine, we had a bit of control and then we had a 10-minute spell where Genk got on top because we just didn’t look after the ball anywhere near well enough, forced it a little bit, and then we defended too deep because we didn’t take care of each other with the ball.
“And then I thought we rode that out and it looked like we were getting a bit of control back. Then Dio gets sent off, so it’s frustrating for us, really frustrating. I asked them to be really aggressive and not just defend for 45 minutes to try and get a draw and get a point, so I thought we looked a threat.
“And they had a couple of moments but they didn’t cut us open. It wasn’t like we were defending relentlessly and we had a couple of moments ourselves. So I’m frustrated. The red card changes a lot but I’m proud of the effort in the second half.
Genk boss heaps praise on "special" Rangers fans
Genk boss Thorsten Fink was pleased to leave Ibrox with a 1-0 win and recalled playing at the Govan stadium for Bayern Munich in 1999, when the two sides drew 1-1 in a Champions League group game.
He said: “I was happy to see the crowd today and the fans in the stadium. I was here in 1999. I didn’t play, but I was on the bench. Rangers drew 1-1 with Bayern Munich.
“They played a very good game against us. I have been a coach for a long time, but it was my first time coming here as a coach so it is a nice victory for me.
“There is always a good atmosphere here. They supported their team from what I saw. When I was here with Bayern Munich there were more fans, 52,000 I think.“They are special, special fans. The atmosphere in 1999 I will never forget. Today the fans were good as well. I was happy to be here.”
For so many years, winning the Premier League was the great white whale for Liverpool, elusive and unattainable, always falling short in the race for England’s biggest prize.
Then Jurgen Klopp came along, and everything changed. The German restored Anfield to its former standing as a global superpower. Now he’s gone, and Liverpool are champions once again.
Jurgen Klopp lifts the Champions League
Arne Slot has proved the perfect successor, and he did it all without any proper first-team investment. That owes largely to Klopp’s midfield rebuild, and indeed his work with Michael Edwards and co over so many years, piecing together lasting stars who will continue to shine through the 2025/26 campaign.
But now, the signings are flowing through in cascades, with a deal wrapped up for Bayer Leverkusen right-sider Jeremie Frimpong and an agreement finally reached for his teammate, Florian Wirtz, who will become the most expensive player in British history.
It’s a lot of money for a 22-year-old playmaker, so how exactly is Wirtz going to improve Liverpool?
Why Liverpool have signed Wirtz
Liverpool have broken the bank to sign Wirtz, but sometimes, securing such a marquee deal is worth it. Having won the Premier League last season, the Reds are now consolidating their position at the top.
And Wirtz, having conquered his homeland, is ready to make the move to English football, where he could take Kevin De Bruyne’s vacated spot as the country’s foremost number ten.
Florian Wirtz
As per FBref, the playmaker ranked among the top 2% of positional peers in the Bundesliga last year for assists, the top 6% for shot-creating actions, the top 1% for passes attempted and the top 5% for both progressive passes and progressive carries per 90.
Where Dominik Szoboszlai is industrious, Wirtz is incisive and influential to a different degree. Former Werkself striker Patrick Helmes has even gone as far as to say he’s “probably the best midfielder in the world.”
With Trent Alexander-Arnold gone, Liverpool will need to find new ways to maintain their peerless creativity; sparking chance after chance has been the foundation of their success in the Premier League across these recent successful years.
24/25
Liverpool
112
23/24
Liverpool
102
22/23
Liverpool & Man City
103
21/22
Liverpool
97
20/21
Liverpool
82
Curious that Trent created fewer big chances (15) than across any of Liverpool’s past four top-flight campaigns. Wirtz will fix all that, and if FSG secure a talented new striker, Liverpool may just reach a whole ‘nother level.
Liverpool interested in signing LaLiga striker
As per Diego Simeone, Liverpool are among the clubs interested in signing Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez 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.
The renowned manager was responding to a journalist’s comments on Atletico’s striker being one of the hottest commodities on the market, and Simeone said he was flattered, name-checking Arsenal, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain too.
Simeone stated: “Every club wants to sign Julián Álvarez. It’s logical. I can’t imagine it any other way. Of course every top club wants him—Barcelona, PSG, Arsenal, Liverpool… all of them. And for us, for Atlético fans, it should be a point of pride that everyone wants him. Why? Because he’s ours. And since he’s ours, we need to protect him. We have to make sure he feels happy. And how will he feel happy? By winning. And to get there, we all need to give 110%.”
Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez
The 25-year-old Alvarez has only been in the Spanish capital for a year, but he’s enjoyed a world-class campaign and boasts dynamic attacking properties that suggest he’d be tailor-made for Slot’s system.
However, Los Colchoneros would reportedly be seeking a figure as high as €170m (£142m) to part with their star man.
What Julian Alvarez would bring to Liverpool
Alvarez enjoyed his time at Manchester City, posting 55 goal contributions across 103 matches before earning Simeone’s attention. Atletico would then sign the silky forward for £81.5m.
This sparked derision from some, but Alvarez has since proved the doubters wrong, scoring 29 goals and supplying seven assists across 54 matches in all competitions.
He’s settled into his throne as the free-scoring frontman, but he’s far more than just a goalscorer, ranked among the top 4% of strikers across Europe last season for passes attempted, shot-creating actions and progressive carries, the top 8% for progressive passes and the top 12% for successful take-ons per 90, according to FBref.
You can only imagine how he would perform in Slot’s Liverpool system, with Wirtz pulling the strings behind him. Journalist Roy Nemer actually hailed Alvarez as “the best striker in the world” for his performances across the past year, not just striking true but working hard to outfox defenders and create space for teammates.
Moreover, he’s demonstrated a propensity to do it on the biggest stage, scoring a stunning goal against Real Madrid in Atletico’s controversial Champions League quarter-final defeat in March.
Considering Alvarez has a wealth of trophy-laden Premier League experience in Pep Guardiola’s system, Liverpool might just find themselves hitting even loftier targets next year,
As per Sofascore, the Argentina superstar only missed seven big chances across the 2024/25 La Liga campaign, converting 17 strikes. Given that he created 11 big chances and averaged 34.9 touches per game too (which is high for a centre-forward), Alvarez’s dynamic approach has been underscored.
Truly, he’s one of the deadliest and most multi-faceted forwards on the market, with exceptional off-the-ball movement that Slot could use to an emphatic effect, with Wirtz and Mohamed Salah making things happen around him.
Liverpool’s new playmaker created 17 big chances in the Bundesliga last season after winning the division’s Player of the Season award one year prior. Clearly, he’s got the world at his feet, and Alvarez would be the grateful recipient of his production if signed by Liverpool this summer.
Whether Liverpool have the financial means to bring Alvarez back to England remains to be seen. Certainly, FSG won’t green-light a deal in the ballpark of £142m.
However, if something more agreeable can be found, Liverpool have got to pounce on this one, for he would be the perfect fit for Slot’s set-up.
A right-footed Salah: £80m winger is now Liverpool's top target after Wirtz
Liverpool will need to sign a new left-sided forward should Luis Diaz be sold.
Florian Wirtz is in the process of signing for Liverpool this summer in what will likely prove a British-record deal, with Bayer Leverkusen demanding £120m to part with their prized possession.
It’s droning on a bit, the transfer saga, but then engineering a record deal for a world-class superstar was never going to be a walk in the park, and it bears testament to sporting director Richard Hughes and his team that Liverpool have batted off rival interest from Manchester City and Bayern Munich to take the lead in what is now a one-horse race.
With Trent Alexander-Arnold now officially a Real Madrid player, it was always going to be important that Liverpool replace him not just positionally but creatively as well, and Wirtz is “unbelievably intelligent” in his passing, says Leverkusen’s former executive CEO assistant, Devin Ozek.
Florian Wirtz
When (if) the Wirtz deal is wrapped up, Liverpool will want to turn their focus to the front of the ship, with a new centre-forward needed after difficult campaigns for Slot’s natural number nines.
However, the sale of one of Anfield’s biggest stars has led Liverpool to rekindle their interest in Anthony Gordon.
Why Liverpool are interested in Anthony Gordon
Gordon signed for Newcastle United in a £45m deal back in January 2023, and despite a slow start across the latter phase of that campaign, Gordon notched 28 goal contributions during the 2023/24 season and was crowned the club’s Player of the Season.
Newcastle would want £80m to let the England international leave St. James’ Park this summer, but that hasn’t stopped Liverpool from registering their interest in Gordon, who dreams of returning to Merseyside and joining his boyhood club.
Now, why is this? Well, interest is growing in Liverpool’s Luis Diaz, with FSG already rejecting an offer from Barcelona and stating the Colombian is not for sale, report The Athletic.
However, the Premier League side’s stance is likely far more equivocal, with the right offer sure to open the door for the 28-year-old’s sale. Al-Nassr are also intrigued, and maybe their riches would be more fitting for a summer departure.
Should Diaz depart, it would be because a suitor, likely from the Saudi Pro League, has agreed to meet FSG’s €85m (£72m) valuation.
If that happens, Liverpool will move for a new wideman, but it might not actually be Gordon who gets reeled in.
Liverpool lead race for Gordon alternative
The problem with Gordon is he’s worth £80m, and given there’s a similar player who could be signed for half that sum and placed to challenge Cody Gakpo for the number one spot, it seems silly to go down the more expensive route.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
That player is Lyon’s Malick Fofana, who, according to TEAMtalk, has been heavily scouted by Liverpool in recent months as Slot weighs up a move.
Fofana’s £40m release clause makes him an attractive option. Arsenal and Aston Villa are also interested, alongside Liverpool, with the trio all said to be leading the race.
The player’s agent, Bobo Fofana, however, has previously claimed that Anfield would be his “choice of heart.”
What Malick Fofana would bring to Liverpool
Fofana may only be 20 and with 62 Lyon appearances to his name, but he’s already made quite the name for himself in France, joining from Belgian team Gent for a fee rising to €22m (£19m) in January 2024, when he was only 18.
Lyon's Malick Fofana
Across 41 matches in all competitions this season, the wideman scored 11 goals and provided six assists for his teammates, and with his principal position being on the left flank, he’d be ideal to replace Diaz.
That is, unless Gordon signs for the club. Liverpool’s interest in the English star is long-standing, but it might be that moving for the Scouser wouldn’t be in the club’s best interests, not when Fofana’s progress suggests he could do the same job.
Given that he’s four years Gordon’s junior, he might even eclipse him in the years to come.
Matches (starts)
34 (28)
29 (16)
Goals
6
5
Assists
5
4
Shots (on target)*
1.7 (0.6)
1.1 (0.4)
Pass completion
81%
84%
Key passes*
1.5
0.9
Big chances created
6
6
Dribbles*
1.1
0.8
Tackles + interceptions*
1.1
1.1
Ground duels (won)*
4.4
2.8 (54%)
As you can see, both wingers enjoyed similar seasons in their respective leagues, but is Gordon performing at a level which proves he should cost double that of his French counterpart?
As per FBref, Fofana ranked among the top 10% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues this season for non-penalty goals scored, the top 2% for progressive carries and the top 16% for touches in the attacking box per 90.
His athleticism and pace have actually led the data-driven site to record Gordon as one of Fofana’s most comparable players, further evidence that he should be signed instead.
So then, the template for something remarkable might just be there. A natural goalscorer, Fofana has also been praised for his “explosive” running by analyst Ben Mattinson. Moreover, the defensive quality you can see ranks well against Gordon is something that would serve him well in the Premier League.
Given the richness of Liverpool’s attacking options, bringing in Fofana as a long-term project might not be the worst idea in the world, with his crisp passing aligning with the way Diaz plays and his fleet-footedness a further string to his bow.
With Wirtz, Mohamed Salah and the rest of them helping unlock Fofana’s high potential, this could be a shrewd move the Reds look back at fondly indeed in the years to come.
Liverpool exploring move for £30m "iron barrel" who's just like Van Dijk
Liverpool are interested in signing a new centre-back this summer.
And with that, the Premier League is done and dusted for another year. Arsenal, the division’s second place side, ended things with a win but the real work starts now for new sporting director Andrea Berta.
Mikel Arteta declared post-game on Sunday that work for the new season would commence quickly.
Where do they need to strengthen?
It’s pretty obvious unless you have been living under a rock.
For the first time since the 1923/24 season, yes, over 100 years ago, Arsenal failed to find a player who scored double figures in a league season.
Injuries have no doubt led to this but so has the club’s poor recruitment over the last 18 months.
A new striker and potentially also a winger simply has to be sourced this summer.
Arsenal’s transfer plans post-season
It’s set to be out with the old and in with the new this summer for the Gunners.
Kieran Tierney scored on his final outing for the Gunners at Southampton but it may not have been just his final outing.
Indeed, Raheem Sterling will head back to his parent club while Thomas Partey and Jorginho see their contracts expire in a few weeks time.
Leandro Trossard – linked with Saudi last January – could sign a new deal at the Emirates Stadium this summer, but that is unlikely to have an impact on whether or not they sign a new forward.
For that central berth, the likes of Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko seem the most likely of candidates but there’s also the potential for a new winger to arrive in the shape of Real Madrid star, Rodrygo.
The Brazilian isn’t the only wide player on their shortlist with reports in recent weeks suggesting that Arsenal have been working on a deal for Rafael Leao.
The Milan star is also wanted by Bayern Munich this summer but there’s has been a new development in Arsenal’s chase.
Transfer Focus
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That’s according to French publication, Foot Mercato, who suggested over the weekend that while the Portuguese winger is on the club’s ‘shortlist’, Berta actually had a phone call with the player in the last two weeks.
The purpose of that call was to tell Leao that there is definite interest in him from the Gunners.
Arsenal don’t have an endless supply of cash this summer, and with other areas needing to be improved, they will have to spend wisely. Thus, a reported £145m release clause is unlikely to be met too well by the club’s recruitment team.
How Rafael Leao compares to Rodrygo
Speaking last week ahead of the game with Southampton, Arteta was actually asked about the prospect of signing Rodrygo from Real Madrid.
While he didn’t explicitly reveal that Arsenal were interested, he was slightly more open to the prospect of discussing transfers than he was a week or two ago, stating: “If you want to win titles, you have to be the best in the market. The teams that win have the best players.”
Well, speaking of the best players, who would be the better option here?
AC Milan's RafaelLeaoreacts
Rodrygo is an electrifying talent and there is a belief that if he moved away from the Bernabeu and was the main man, he’d be a genuinely scary proposition. After all, this is a player who has scored 50 goals since the beginning of the 2022/23 season.
In comparison, Leao – who’s actually been compared to a young Thierry Henry for his play style on the left flank – has scored 43 times in the same time frame.
So, with fewer goals, why is the Portuguese more exciting?
Goals
0.40
0.34
Assists
0.31
0.24
Shot on target %
36.0%
36.3%
Key passes
2.06
1.91
Progressive passes
4.12
3.76
Shot-creating actions
4.60
4.71
Successful take-ons
2.64
2.56
Progressive carries
5.20
5.63
A genuine speedster, the Milan forward has notably been described by the Athletic’s Alex Barker as “one of the best dribblers in the world”, the numbers certainly showcase that.
He ranks within the top 5% of wingers in Europe’s top five leagues this season for successful take ons per 90 minutes with 2.84. In contrast, Rodrygo only ranks among the best 23% with 2.08 per 90 mins in 2024/25.
Evidently both very capable dribblers, over the last three seasons it’s the Milan superstar who comes out on top in most areas, most importantly producing more end product (goals and assists) every 90 minutes.
Leao isn’t just a dribbler and a goalscorer, but he’s also capable of providing assists, delivering more key passes and progressive passes than Madrid’s wing sensation.
AC Milan's RafaelLeaocelebrates scoring their first goal
It’s likely the latter would be a cheaper acquisition but based on the numbers it’s the Portugal international who looks like the more exciting talent.
Combine that with comparisons to Henry and you have a genuine world beater here capable of getting Arsenal fans off their seats again.
It’s safe to say they’ve lacked that star quality and X factor on too many occasions this season.
Arsenal struck gold on "unplayable" star worth way more than Nico Williams
The incredible talent is going to be a superstar for Arsenal.