All posts by h79snht.top

da mrbet： If there is one thing Arsenal have really lacked this season, it’s goals.

da cassino： Mikel Arteta’s side are set to finish second in the Premier League this weekend, but as things stand, they have scored 18 goals fewer than Liverpool.

With their attacking output such an apparent weakness, it’s hardly been surprising to see the Gunners linked with a host of brilliant strikers and wingers in recent weeks, with Rodrygo perhaps being the most exciting of them all.

However, if recent reports are to be believed, the North Londoners might now be looking at a potential alternative to the Real Madrid star, someone who’s been compared to Bukayo Saka.

Arsenal transfer news

Before we get to the star in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other players linked with Arsenal in recent weeks, such as Viktor Gyokeres and Bryan Mbeumo.

Transfer Focus

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

Expand Collapse

The former has scored an unreal 53 goals in 51 appearances this season while providing another 13 assists for good measure, so even though he’d reportedly cost the Gunners between £60m and £70m, it would be hard to say he wouldn’t be worth it.

Likewise, Mbeumo has been on fire for Brentford this season, scoring 19 goals and providing nine assists in just 41 games, making his £60m price tag seem more than reasonable.

However, another name that has recently entered the picture, and someone who could be an ideal Rodrygo alternative, is Ademola Lookman.

Yes, according to a recent report from Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg, Arsenal are looking for a new winger this summer, and the Atalanta star is someone they are interested in.

In fact, Plettenberg claims that talks with the Nigerian international and other players “are in full swing.”

According to stories from earlier this year, the former Napoli star could cost the North Londoners up to £55m, and while that’s a lot of money, he’d certainly be worth it, especially as he’s won comparisons to Saka.

How Lookman compares to Rodrygo and Saka

So, before we get to why Lookman might be an ideal alternative to Rodrygo, let’s examine this comparison to Saka and where it has come from.

Well, in this instance it stems from FBref, which looks at players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, before creating a list of the ten most comparable players.

By doing this, it has been concluded that the Englishman is the second most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Nigerian across the last 365 days.

Lookman & Saka

Statistic per 90

Lookman

Saka

Non-Penalty G+As

0.78

0.79

Shots

3.23

3.39

Crosses into the Penalty Area

0.53

0.63

Live Passes

33.8

33.0

Shot-Taking Actions

5.44

5.93

Interceptions

0.12

0.16

All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 League Season

The best way to see how this is worked out is by taking a look at the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, including but not limited to non-penalty goals plus assists, shots, crosses into the penalty area, live passes, shot-taking actions and more, all per 90.

In short, there are a lot of statistical similarities between the “world-class” 27-year-old, as dubbed by the BBC’s John Bennett, and Saka, although were he to join the Gunners, he’d almost certainly have to play off the left – where he is still comfortable – which makes him an alternative to Rodrygo.

So, who comes out on top when we compare the pair’s output from this season against one another?

Interestingly, it’s actually the London-born dynamo who comes out on top, as in 39 appearances, totalling 2826 minutes, he has scored 20 goals and provided seven assists, which comes out to an incredible average of a goal involvement every 1.44 games or every 104.66 minutes.

In contrast, the Brazilian international has scored 13 goals and provided ten assists in 50 appearances, totalling 3290 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.17 games or every 143.04 minutes.

Ultimately, Rodrygo would certainly be a statement signing, but should it not materialise, Arsenal may end up better off bringing in Lookman, as he’s both more productive and incredibly similar to Saka.

Related He's like Isak: Arsenal plan talks to sign £105m Gyokeres alternative

The free-scoring forward would be perfect for Arsenal.

Posts

da apostaganha： Celtic want to move on a £16,000-a-week player this summer who feels hurt by manager Brendan Rodgers, and three clubs have been named as possible options.

Celtic gear up for summer with another treble on the cards

da realsbet： The Hoops and Rodgers are on course for another domestic treble after already sealing the Scottish League Cup and winning the Scottish Premiership ahead of rivals Rangers.

A Scottish Cup final triumph next Saturday against Aberdeen at Hampden Park will see Celtic seal another memorable campaign. However, after that, attention behind the scenes will quickly turn to the 2025/26 season.

Related Celtic set to receive major bids for "absolutely brilliant" 33-goal star

The Bhoys could have a decision to make.

Posts 1

Left-back Kieran Tierney has already agreed to return to Celtic Park on a free transfer when his Arsenal deal expires, and he could be the first of many through the door in Glasgow.

Brøndby striker Mathias Kvistgaarden is once again being linked with a move to Celtic, whereas right-back Veljko Milosavljevic from Serbian champions Crvena zvezda is also of interest.

A plethora of incomings may see some players exit the club, and one who looks certain to depart is Luis Palma. The winger sent on loan to Olympiacos with an option to buy back in January, however, the Greek side won’t be making a move permanent in the summer.

Talking back in March, Palma said: “I’m still with them [Celtic]. As long as there’s no transfer, I’ll continue to be grateful to Celtic, but it’s time to defend Olympiacos.”

Now, a fresh report has suggested that the attacker may not be on the books at Celtic Park much longer.

Celtic transfer update on Luis Palma exit with 3 clubs potential destinations

With Olympiacos not exercising their option to sign Palma, Celtic need to work out what to do with the £16,000-a-week winger this summer.

A new update from Greece, relayed by Sport Witness, states that Celtic are no longer counting on Palma for next season and want to move him on ahead of the 2025/26 season, with the player himself also looking to leave as he feels he has been mistreated by Rodgers.

Panathinaikos, AEK Athens and PAOK FC, are all named as potential destinations for the Honduras international and a return to Greece ‘shouldn’t be ruled out’. During his time with Olympiacos, Palma hasn’t exactly caught the eye, managing just one goal and one assist in 12 appearances.

Luis Palma’s Celtic stats

Games

48

Goals

10

Assists

10

Minutes played

2,208

Trophies

4

Celtic paid £3.5m to sign the 25-year-old back in 2023 from Aris FC, and with his Parkhead contract not expiring until 2028, the Hoops will be looking to recoup as much of that figure as possible over the coming months, making this one to keep an eye on over the coming weeks.

da apostebet： One Tottenham Hotspur star is attracting very serious interest from a Premier League rival, who are also set to open talks over his signing “in the coming weeks”.

Tottenham face Bodo/Glimt in crunch Europa League semi-final

da dobrowin： Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou’s sole focus right now is on the club’s potentially fruitful Europa League campaign.

Related Manager who's open to joining Tottenham has now turned down new contract

He’s becoming a more solid contender to replace Ange Postecoglou.

Posts 2

The north Londoners travel to Bodo/Glimt knowing they’re just 90 minutes away from their first European final since Mauricio Pochettino took them to the brink of Champions League glory in 2019, and if they avoid an embarrassing defeat against the Norwegian minnows, Spurs’ spot will be confirmed.

Tottenham’s final Premier League fixtures

Date

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

Aston Villa (away)

May 18th

Brighton (home)

May 25th

Winning the Europa League would be a perfect end to an otherwise dismal campaign for Postecoglou, who has led the Lilywhites to 19 Premier League defeats as Tottenham languish 16th in the table.

Not only would it mean lifting their first piece of major silverware since 2008, but Spurs also have a golden opportunity to book a place in next season’s Champions League draw, so quite a lot is on the line tonight as Postecoglou seeks to rescue the season in dramatic fashion.

“I think the fact it is a semi-final and such a big game irrespective it is always going to be a bit tight and tense throughout the whole game,” said Postecoglou on the challenge of Bodo/Glimt.

“I think it is just the nature of the competition you’re in and being in a semi-final, whether it was at our place first or at our place second, it would have been the same kind of scenario of two teams who know there is a big prize at the end of getting to a final. Yeah, we’ll have to perform.”

Everton set to open talks for Richarlison

Their success in the competition may also determine Tottenham’s transfer plans for the summer, with recent reports suggesting they’re set for a ‘sell to buy’ summer window as things stand (The Telegraph).

One of the men who could be sacrificed to make room for new signings is £60 million striker Richarlison, who hasn’t featured as often as he would’ve liked this term due to a 24/25 campaign blighted by injuries.

The Brazil forward also faces losing his spot in the national team, according to journalist Graeme Bailey, who also told The Boot Room that Everton are set to open talks for Richarlison “in the coming weeks”.

The Merseysiders could offer Tottenham’s “underrated” attacker a route out in pursuit of more minutes, and it is believed Richarlison views the brand-new Everton Stadium as an ideal landing spot.

“I’m told that he has been made aware that he needs to be playing next season,” said Bailey.

“Brazil have a host of options competing with him – Real Madrid’s Endrick but also a host of Premier League rivals – Joao Pedro, Rodrigo Muniz and Evanilson – and they will all be starting for their respective clubs.

“Richarlison needs to be playing, he knows this and that is just why Everton are in such a strong position. They can offer him that chance of first-team football.

“Everton want him back, as we revealed earlier this year, and I believe there is confidence from their side, but also a belief from Richarlison and Spurs’ end that this is likely the best option.

“As it stands a permanent deal will be tough, but that is what the talks in the coming weeks will be aimed to work out.”

Richarlison is also believed to be attracting interest from Brazilian Serie A sides, and it will be intriguing to see where his future lies.

The 27-year-old has been a real mixed bag since making the move to London, enduring spells of bad form and unavailability whilst also going through real purple patches, like the one midway through 2023/2024, when he was seemingly scoring goals for fun.

da aviator aposta： Birmingham City did not fancy sticking it out in League One for the foreseeable as Chris Davies’ Blues soared to the third-tier title in some style.

da marjack bet： Amazingly, the West Midlands giants have now set a new EFL points record at the very top of the League One tree, with a mighty 111 points accumulated across the memorable campaign coming about off the back of a very impressive 34 victories.

Jay Stansfield, of course, has had a big part to play in Birmingham’s unbelievable success story, with the ex-Fulham man hopeful he can keep his potent exploits coming in the Championship next season.

Stansfield's key role in Birmingham's promotion

It would have been a major letdown if Stansfield was anything but spectacular for Davies’ men with Birmingham splashing significant wads of cash to lure him to the fallen giants.

A fee around the £15m mark doesn’t look too steep now, though, considering the 22-year-old has helped himself to a hefty 24 goals in all competitions this campaign from 46 total contests, with 19 of those strikes coming in the league as Birmingham romped home to the title.

Stansfield does have Championship experience already on his side as Davies and Co navigate the step-up too, with 12 goals already tallied up in the difficult division from 45 clashes, meaning the clinical number 28 shouldn’t suddenly lose his Midas touch in front of goal.

But, Birmingham will know their firepower needs to be improved somewhat – away from just relying on Stansfield’s magic – so they can compete with the top dogs in their path, with a statement move already reportedly on the cards to bring back a former Blues forward who is arguably even better than the standout 22-year-old.

Birmingham interested in move for "terrific" attacker

There is also Alfie May waiting in the wings for a shot at second-tier glory, with the experienced EFL head chipping in with 16 league goals of his own for Davies’ men.

But, Birmingham would not turn down the opportunity to bring back former gem Che Adams if they could – away from the star power they already possess – with Football Insider recently revealing that a ‘blockbuster switch’ was being worked on to try and tempt the current Torino striker back to his familiar St. Andrew’s surroundings.

After all, the Scotland international has proven himself to be a reliable source of goals playing in Turin since a summer switch from Southampton, with the 28-year-old not fazed by the bright lights of the Serie A at all when collecting ten goals from 35 appearances.

Transfer Focus

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

Expand Collapse

Yet, whilst it’s clearly impressive that the “terrific” attacker – as he’s been labelled by pundit Ally McCoist recently – has acclimatised to Italian life well, Birmingham will be pushing ahead to make this deal a reality based off his reputation for being a goal machine in the EFL, particularly in the punishing division Davies’ men are reentering into.

Adams’ G/A record in the Championship by season

Season

Club played for

Games

Goals

Assists

23/24

Southampton

40

15

4

18/19

Birmingham

46

22

5

17/18

Birmingham

30

5

2

16/17

Birmingham

40

7

6

Sourced by Transfermarkt

Adams has, after all, collected 34 of his 49 career Championship goals when donning Birmingham blue, with the 28-year-old’s 15-goal heroics during the 2023/24 season enough to help then manager Russell Martin clinch promotion with Southampton.

Stansfield has some catching up to do in this department, with the Blues hotshot only on that aforementioned tally of 12 strikes at the difficult level, but his game could be elevated to the next level lining up next to the Torino number 18.

This will be a fascinating transfer tale to watch unfold, with Birmingham capable of flexing their muscles once more if a move is reached to re-sign their lethal former number nine ahead of a new Championship adventure.

Related Wagner means business: Sky journalist drops exciting Birmingham transfer plan

The Blues are not messing around…

Posts

da bet7k： An “exceptional” former Manchester United player could make a surprise return to Old Trafford this summer, according to a report.

Man Utd pursuing midfielder amid Casemiro doubts

da brwin： Casemiro’s future at Old Trafford appears to be in doubt, despite the Brazilian putting in some much-improved performances in recent times, making a remarkable 11 tackles against Manchester City earlier this month.

As such, Ruben Amorim may be tasked with bringing in a new tough-tackling midfielder this summer, and the manager’s search has led him to Atalanta midfielder Ederson, with Man United expected to make a £52m bid for the Brazilian.

Other potential options include Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Larsson, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Joao Gomes, with United certainly not short on options as we edge closer to the summer transfer window.

Manuel Ugarte joined the Red Devils last summer, following the decision to sell Scott McTominay to Napoli for £25m, and the Scot has really kicked on since arriving in the Serie A, establishing himself as a key player for the Serie A title chasers.

As such, according to a report from Spain, McTominay could now be in line for a surprise return to Old Trafford, although a deal will not be cheap, as his performances for Napoli have elevated his market value considerably.

It may also be difficult to prise the 28-year-old away from Napoli, with the Italian club determined to keep hold of him, and given that he is enjoying one of the best seasons of his career, the midfielder may not be overly keen on a return despite the interest from his former club.

Related Top target: £64m "Superman" now Man Utd's leading candidate to replace Onana

The Red Devils are looking to sign a new goalkeeper, with Andre Onana putting in some concerning performances this season.

Posts "Exceptional" McTominay shining in the Serie A

The Scotland international was much-maligned during his time with Man United, which ultimately led to the decision to cash-in last summer, but he has shown serious signs of development since moving to Napoli.

The Lancaster-born midfielder has picked up a very impressive eight goals and four assists in 28 Serie A appearances, most recently bagging a brace against Empoli to ensure his side remained just three points behind league leaders Inter Milan.

In light of the improvements the central midfielder has made to his game, he was lauded as “exceptional” by journalist Josh Bunting earlier this season, and he ranks highly on some key metrics for midfielders over the past year.

Statistic

Average per 90

Non-penalty goals

0.26 (97th percentile)

Successful take-ons

1.05 (85th percentile)

Aerials won

1.84 (90th percentile)

That said, it seems very unlikely that McTominay will be on his way back to Old Trafford anytime soon, given that he left less than a year ago, and appears to be flourishing with Napoli.

da realbet： Celtic could now make a move and sign an “excellent” 19-year-old, who is taller than every Hoops player, according to a new report.

Celtic begin preparations for the summer

da cassino： The Hoops will be slowly turning their attentions to the summer, as they plan a recruitment drive that can not only help them stay top of the Scottish Premiership but can also help them when it comes to competing in the Champions League.

Related Rodgers must drop Idah to unleash Celtic star who "raises the bar"

Rodgers must drop Adam Idah from the starting line-up to unleash this Celtic star.

Posts

It’s been reported that Celtic remain interested in signing Million Manhoef from Championship side Stoke City, despite the fact that he is valued at £10 million. The Hoops are also in the race to sign striker Moussa Soumano from AC Ajaccio, but they face stiff competition as Premier League-bound Leeds United are also keen on the player.

Signing a striker seems a priority for Brendan Rodgers this summer, as West Ham’s Danny Ings has also been mentioned as someone the Scottish champions could look to sign at the end of the campaign.

But as well as looking at proven players, Celtic are also in the market for young, exciting talents, and according to TBR Football, the Hoops have spoken to the representatives of Jesse Derry, who currently plays for Premier League side Crystal Palace. There are several teams from Britain and abroad who are chasing the signature of Derry.

Celtic could sign 19 y/o gem who is taller than every Hoops player

Derry is not the only young star the Hoops are chasing ahead of the summer, as according to George Shields, manager of Tayport, Celtic could be interested in signing goalkeeper Nathaniel Nwosu.

Nwosu is currently playing for Tayport, who are a team in the sixth tier of Scottish football, and the shot-stopper claimed his fourth clean sheet in a row on Wednesday evening. Shields has revealed that the Hoops could be about to make a move for his goalkeeper.

“He’s six foot eight, and I can see him getting a contract someplace, especially in Scotland,” he told The Herald.

“I don’t think he’ll have a problem getting a contract up here if I’m being honest. He’s only 19 years old, so he has plenty of growing to do. Maybe not physically, but he can clearly play at a good level. There is some word that Celtic might want a look at him, as well but we’ve not had confirmation of that yet.

“He has done really well playing for me at Tayport up to now, and we’ve put him in the shop window for these clubs. There’s no question that he has all the attributes to play at a high level.”

Nathaniel Nwosu’s height compared to Celtic’s tallest players

Nathaniel Nwosu

1.93m

Adam Idah

1.90m

Auston Trusty

1.90m

Viljami Sinisalo

1.90m

Nwosu, who has been dubbed “excellent” by Sheilds for his distribution, could join Kasper Schmeichel, Viljami Sinisalo and Scott Bain at Parkhead.

da bet vitoria： Enzo Maresca’s Blues started the season in red-hot form, dispatching teams and finding themselves second in the Premier League just before Christmas.

da bet7： However, since then, Chelsea have struggled, dropping points to bottom-half sides and now finding themselves sixth and on the fringes of Champions League qualification.

Cole Palmer has struggled for form in recent months, playing in the middle of the park behind the striker, often dropping deep to receive the ball and aid Chelsea’s progression through the lines.

Whilst his goal-scoring numbers have dropped off, his creativity remains effective, having the joint highest xA (expected assists) in the Premier League this season with 7.9 xA.

With six games to go, it remains in the balance whether the Blues can obtain a precious top five spot, securing Champions League football for next season, in their ability to do so may well impact their ability to sign players this upcoming summer.

Chelsea favourites to sign Bundesliga sensation

According to reports from CaughtOffside, Chelsea are now leading the race and are favourites to sign Borussia Dortmund superstar, Jamie Gittens this summer.

Other Premier League clubs such as Liverpool have shown interest and scouted the 20-year-old winger, but it looks like the Blues may be ahead in the race.

With Jadon Sancho’s future currently in question, the Blues could opt to send the winger back to Manchester United, freeing up funds to acquire Gittens – who has been touted at around £85m – from Dortmund and reinvent the left side of their attacking unit.

Gittens has made 44 appearances for the German outfit this campaign, netting 12 goals, providing five assists and totalling 2,648 minutes played. The English winger came through Manchester City’s academy, much like another one of Chelsea’s superstars.

Gittens vs Palmer comparison

Palmer was, of course, signed from Manchester City back in 2023, joining the Blues for a fee of around £40m plus £2.5m in add-ons. That signing has proven to be well worth the investment made, with the 22-year-old already making 82 appearances for Chelsea, scoring 39 goals and providing 24 assists in 6,575 minutes played.

Jamie Gittens vs Cole Palmer comparison

Stats (per 90 mins)

Gittens

Palmer

Goals

0.41

0.41

Assists

0.10

0.24

xG

0.19

0.54

xAG

0.13

0.31

Progressive Carries

5.58

3.25

Progressive Passes

2.07

6.24

Shots Total

2.56

3.65

Goals/Shot

0.16

0.09

Key Passes

1.09

2.54

Shot-Creating Actions

3.66

5.93

Successful Take-Ons

3.73

1.46

Carries into Pen Area

3.08

1.15

Stats taken from FBref

When comparing the underlying metrics of both young England stars, you can see how each of their games differ. Gittens clearly excels at carrying, looking to be direct with the ball at his feet, beating players 1v1 and attacking the box. Meanwhile, Palmer looks to express himself through creative passing, creating for himself and others, whilst also not being afraid to pull the trigger.

The 20-year-old has already been described as the “next English diamond” by Saul Morris, via Football Talent Scout, back in 2023. Since then, we have seen Gittens go on to produce some excellent form with Borussia Dortmund, thus earning him recognition from clubs back in England.

If Gittens does join Chelsea, the ex-Manchester City academy duo could be a lethal combination in attack, with Palmer dropping deep and finding those incisive passes in behind opposition defences, allowing Gittens to attack the box and get those shots off.

All the signs then point to this exciting deal proving to be the Blues’ best since snapping up Palmer in 2023.

Related Shades of Hazard: Chelsea plotting move to sign £39m-rated "entertainer"

Chelsea are looking to add to their depth in attack

Posts

da 888casino： It’s amazing what one game of football can do to the atmosphere around a club, and Arsenal have been the perfect example of that this week.

da dobrowin： Mikel Arteta’s side have endured a rather torrid domestic campaign this year, and following their 1-1 draw with Everton on the weekend, the mood wasn’t great.

However, since the full-time whistle was blown on Tuesday night after the Gunners had taken Real Madrid to pieces in the Champions League, spirits have been as high as they’ve been in years.

Unfortunately, football has a cruel way of bringing fans back down, and based on reports, the Spanish giants are now looking to sign one of the North Londoners’ stars from that game, in a move that would be reminiscent of Cesc Fàbregas’ move to Barcelona.

Arsenal transfer news

While there are plenty of links for players who might join Arsenal this summer, there are also several players who look set to leave or, in the case of Kieran Tierney, will be leaving.

The Scottish international signed a pre-contract agreement with former club Celtic earlier this year and, therefore, will leave six years after moving to the Emirates in a £25m deal from the Glaswegian giants.

Two other stars who aren’t confirmed to be leaving but look increasingly like they will be are Thomas Partey and Jorginho, as their contracts expire on June 30th.

However, while both are important players, the former slightly more than the latter, they aren’t necessarily irreplaceable, which is something that could be said about William Saliba.

In news no Arsenal fan will want to hear, recent reports from Spain have claimed that Real Madrid are now more committed than ever to signing the French superstar.

Transfer Focus

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

Expand Collapse

The report has revealed that following his team’s demolition at the Emirates, Real president Florentino Perez ‘returned from London with one fixed idea: William Saliba must wear white.’

The story claims that it’ll be a tough deal to get done, but it might be feasible for around £86m.

While that is a lot of money for a defender, this is a transfer Arsenal have to fight to stop, as Saliba leaving will feel eerily similar to Fabregas’ exit in 2011.

Why Saliba's exit would be a Fabregas repeat

So, the first thing to point out is the fact that, yes, Saliba and Fabregas are completely different footballers who play in entirely different positions, but should this transfer happen, there would be some undeniable similarities to the Spaniard’s in 2011.

The first is the simple fact that it would be another example of one of Spain’s big two teams coming and taking a player from the Gunners, with Barcelona being the offenders last time and Los Blancos doing it this time.

Second of all, they’d also be pinching one of the Gunners’ best young-ish players before they hit their peak, as when he moved to Barcelona, the 2010 World Cup winner was just 24 years old, and according to research carried out by The Athletic, central midfielders do not hit their peak until 25.

In this instance, the Bondy-born “monster,” as dubbed by content creator Connor Humm, is also just 24, and per that same research, centre-backs reach their peak at about 27.

Finally, the last and potentially most significant similarity should this transfer happen is the fact that Arsenal will be losing one of their most important players.

Saliba in 24/25

Competition

EPL

UCL

EFL Cup

FA Cup

Appearances

29

8

4

1

Starts

29

8

3

1

Minutes

2546′

720′

315′

120′

Points per Game

2.07

2.38

1.50

0.00

Goals

2

0

0

0

Assists

0

0

0

0

All Stats via Transfermarkt

When he returned to Catalonia in 2011, the former Gunners’ star was the club captain and absolutely pivotal to how the team played, and while the Frenchman is not the current captain, he’s just as important.

For example, this season alone, the “phenomenal” defender, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, has made 42 appearances across all competitions, of which 41 have been starts.

Ultimately, while it would bring in a lot of money, Arsenal cannot sell Saliba this summer, as, like in the case of Fabregas, they will not find a like-for-like replacement anytime soon.

da wazamba： Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk’s future is still a major talking point at Anfield and now an important new update has emerged courtesy of the Dutchman himself.

Van Dijk's future up in the air as Liverpool fall at Fulham

da doce： The 33-year-old has enjoyed an all-conquering season at the heart of the Reds’ defence, made even more impressive by the fact that his contract situation has created endless column inches.

Van Dijk’s current Liverpool deal expires at the end of the campaign, and despite seemingly appearing happy at Liverpool, he is yet to sign an extension, nor have there been any truly concrete reports of a deal being close.

On Sunday, the Reds legend produced arguably his poorest performance of the season so far, making mistakes and being out muscled by Rodrigo Muniz for Fulham’s third goal in their 3-2 victory in the Premier League at Craven Cottage.

Van Dijk seemed strangely off the boil throughout, with This Is Anfield‘s James Nalton giving him a negative assessment in his player ratings, saying: “Muniz outmanoeuvred him with a great touch for Fulham’s third goal as a below-par spell of form continued for Van Dijk as well as Konate.

“He helped out his centre-back partner following the early error, but was himself at fault later on. Improved once Liverpool went all-out-attack, and there are few defenders you’d trust more to defend on their own in such a scenario, but the damage had already been done.”

Audio tape of Van Dijk speaking about Liverpool contract talks

On Monday, reliable reporter Lewis Steele shared the audio of what Van Dijk has said about his Liverpool future, with the centre-back admitting “there is progress” on the situation, adding that “internal discussions” are continuing as he spoke with reporters in the mixed zone at Craven Cottage.

Van Dijk is clearly still remaining relatively coy about what will happen next, but it is still encouraging to hear that some progress has been made, especially with Trent Alexander-Arnold potentially off to Real Madrid this summer.

If Liverpool only lost one of their captain, vice-captain and Mohamed Salah, it may be an outcome that supporters would just about accept, and at this point, it might be considered a shock if Van Dijk leaves.

Virgil van Dijk’s Premier League stats this season

Total

Appearances

31

Starts

31

Minutes played

2790

Goals

1

Assists

1

Clearances per game

5.1

Aerial duel wins per game

3.2

Pass completion rate

91.6%

While his last few performances haven’t been his best – he was lucky not to gift Beto a goal in the Reds’ 1-0 win at home to Everton last week – he has still enjoyed an exceptional season, and remains arguably the world’s leading centre-back.

Related Not just Robertson: FSG must now sell "world-class" Liverpool star

Liverpool’s 26-game unbeaten run in the Premier League was ended on an error-strewn afternoon at Craven Cottage.

Posts

Losing him this summer would be an almighty blow to anyone of a Liverpool persuasion, not least Arne Slot, and the hope is that an agreement is reached as soon as possible.

da esoccer bet： Tottenham Hotspur are undergoing a period of transition, but this span of change is built atop the success of winning the Europa League with Ange Postecoglou.

da pinup bet： The decision was made afterwards to part ways with Big Ange, whose promise kept wasn’t enough to save his position after slumping to a 17th-place Premier League finish.

But change is afoot, with Heung-min Son, 33, now ready to close the door on his iconic journey at the club, announcing that he has played his last in Tottenham white.

Spurs must consider Son replacement

Son, 33, is one of the most important and influential Tottenham stars of modern times. But there’s no question that he’s been on the decline over the past couple of years, less electric and snappy.

The South Korean has informed Daniel Levy on Spurs’ pre-season tour that he wishes to explore a move away this summer, and that wish has been granted, with MLS side LAFC pushing to secure his signature.

While the £55m signing of West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus has strengthened Frank’s attacking flanks, Tottenham could do with another to replace Son.

Well, given the club’s interest in AC Milan’s Rafael Leao this summer, it appears he could be the perfect man for the job, with previous reports from transfer insider Ben Jacobs suggesting that the Portuguese winger is on the radar.

What Rafael Leao would bring to Spurs

Leao, 26, is one of the most threatening wide forwards in the world, a high-speed runner and a danger from multiple angles. Across 260 appearances with Milan, he has posted 70 goals and supplied 62 assists.

Though he’s somewhat inconsistent in front of goal at times, Leao’s talent is indisputable. In fact, analyst Ben Mattinson has described him as “one of the best left wingers in the world”, so he has the capacity to replace an ageing Son.

The fact that Son is no longer in his heyday makes the transition smoother, of course. The South Korean icon started last term’s Europa League final from the bench, underscoring that point.

But he still scored 28 goals and laid on 24 assists across 82 games in Postecoglou’s system, with the Australian hailing his “world-class” quality.

Leao has endured a tough campaign in Italy, similarly to Son, with I Rossoneri flattering to deceive. However, he still picked up 25 goal contributions across all competitions, finishing the year with certain similarities to Spurs’ soon-to-depart superstar.

Rafael Leao vs Heung-min Son (past 365 days)

Stats (per 90)

Leao

Son

Goals

0.32

0.32

Assists

0.26

0.32

Shots taken

2.37

2.46

Shot-creating actions

4.13

4.89

Touches (att pen)

6.15

4.70

Progressive passes

3.58

4.28

Progressive carries

4.74

5.41

Successful take-ons

2.83

1.59

All data via FBref

They rank up pretty similarly, over the past year, which perhaps shines a light on how Son is still a high-level player and his sale will sting some.

But Leao’s superior athleticism is clear, and that’s something that Frank would use to an emphatic effect. The Danish boss, don’t forget, has demonstrated with Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo at Brentford his aptitude for raising the game of dynamic forwards.

With fleet feet and plenty of flair besides, Leao could be the perfect addition to this new Tottenham chapter, providing Frank with an outlet down the left flank for many years to come.

Related Their best CF since Kane: Spurs enter talks for "extremely dangerous" star

Tottenham Hotspur are starting to make a move for a forward who could follow in Harry Kane’s footsteps.

Posts