Newcastle United have made an offer worth more than £50m to sign a new player this summer who has already received praise from club legend Alan Shearer.

Newcastle celebrate Carabao Cup win as PIF plot for summer signings

The Magpies took advantage of not having a game last weekend by celebrating their Carabao Cup triumph with a trophy parade. Ant and Dec, along with Shearer, were amongst those to join fans for an open-top bus parade which produced some brilliant moments for supporters.

Talking about the scenes, Shearer said: “The players must have absolutely loved it because they got some reception. I know they absolutely deserved it but they must have loved it because to be a part of that, on the bus with the trophy and the fans what they were giving them must have been incredible for them.

“Then to get on the stage and have another 150,000 to 200,000 cheer you on, it was just a great day. The way everyone mixed and got on, the atmosphere was brilliant.”

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Away from the parade, though, Newcastle and PIF are seemingly working behind the scenes on some summer transfers for Eddie Howe’s side.

Recently, it has been claimed that Bournemouth’s Dango Ouattara is of interest and that contact has been made for the £33m+ forward. Now, it looks as if Newcastle have gone one further and made an offer for a Premier League player.

Newcastle make £50m+ offer to sign Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott

According to reports in Spain, Newcastle have made an offer to sign Harvey Elliott from Liverpool. The bid made by Newcastle is thought to be worth €60m (£50.2m), with Elliott impressing due to his ‘vision, ball-handling skills, and ability to contribute both in attack and defence’.

The report then goes on to add that the offer could be hard to refuse for Liverpool, with Elliott out of contract in 2027 as things stand.

The 21-year-old has progressed through the ranks after joining the Reds from Fulham in 2019 and has gone on to make 140 appearances for Liverpool in a variety of attacking and midfield positions.

Elliott’s appearances by position

Games

Right-winger

103

Attacking midfield

65

Central midfield

36

Left-winger

14

Centre-forward

3

Second striker

1

He’s also been hailed by Shearer, who said on Elliott: “He’s a real talent isn’t he, he’s brilliant. What I like about him now, he can play midfield also. We all knew he could play midfield but he’s not just okay because Salah’s playing on the on the right and he wants to come in on his left foot.

“He can play in a variety of different positions and every time he plays it really shows me that he’s good enough for this level now, it really does. As long as he can get some consistency, I think we’ve got another top player on our hands.”

Now, it looks as if a move to St James’ Park could be one to keep an eye on.

Chelsea are in contact with the representatives of a forward who Arsenal have met with in the last few days, and it appears the Premier League rival duo are in a hotly-contested race for his signature.

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Alongside the host of outgoing transfers expected to take place at Stamford Bridge this summer, Enzo Maresca is reportedly looking to add a quality new wide player to his roster.

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Uncertainty surrounds Mykhailo Mudryk’s long-term future after a failed drugs test, while Noni Madueke is attracting interest from Newcastle and Aston Villa. It also isn’t a forgone conclusion that Chelsea sign Jadon Sancho from Man United permanently, so BlueCo are understandably looking at other options.

Brentford (away)

April 6th

Ipswich Town (home)

April 13th

Fulham (away)

April 20th

Everton (home)

April 26th

Liverpool (home)

May 4th

Jamie Gittens (Borussia Dortmund), Antoine Semenyo (Bristol City), Kenan Yildiz (Juventus) and Yeremay Hernandez (Malaga) are among the wingers being targeted by Chelsea ahead of the summer window, according to journalist Simon Phillips. However, as per the reporter and other media sources, one name stands out among them.

£200,000-per-week Athletic Bilbao starlet Nico Williams is at the centre of keen interest from Chelsea, following a sensational 2024 for the exciting Spain starlet.

The 22-year-old chalked up 19 assists in all competitions last season and helped his national team to European Championship glory, with The Guardian’s Ed Aarons reporting that Williams is expected to push for a summer exit.

His contract includes a £48 million release clause as well, which would be affordable from a Chelsea perspective, but the major obstacle lies in his extortionate wage demands, rumoured to be around £300,000-per-week.

It is believed Williams is a top target for Chelsea heading into the summer, but they face stiff competition from Arsenal. Their new sporting director, Andrea Berta, met with the representatives of Bilbao’s sensation in the last few days (Foot Mercato), with the Gunners attempting to steal a march on their London neighbours.

Chelsea make contact with Nico Williams' representatives

Now, as per Phillips on his Substack, Chelsea have also reached out to Williams’ camp as they try to compete with Arsenal.

However, as predicted, the salary issue remains a significant stumbling block in any proposed negotiation – something which the Blues are doing their best to navigate.

“The club are planning to revisit the wages side of this deal and have made contact again with his agents to see if anything is plausible,” wrote the reporter.

“Williams stays a big target, but something would need to give with his wages, just like with Victor Osimhen who would still be Chelsea’s first choice striker target if they could agree on wages.”

The Spaniard, statistically, is one of La Liga’s most frightening dribblers with the division’s fifth-highest rate of successful take-ons per 90 (WhoScored).

He’d be a hugely exciting addition for Chelsea, and you can never count the west Londoners out of any transfer race these days. That being said, BlueCo won’t be keen on putting a dent in their carefully organised wage structure, so there appears to be plenty to do in talks for the player as Arsenal provide a serious threat.

Celtic are pushing on with their hunt for another domestic treble, but they will also be planning ahead for the summer window to navigate potential incomings and departures.

Celtic expecting movement in both directions this summer

The Bhoys only require three more victories at a maximum to guarantee a fourth successive Scottish Premiership title and travel to St Johnstone this weekend hoping to hasten the process ahead off taking on Kilmarnock next Saturday.

Brendan Rodgers could also secure the Scottish Cup should he navigate past the Perthshire side at Hampden later in the month followed by either Hearts or Aberdeen in the final. Still, the Irishman will have one eye on a summer transfer window that is set to produce incomings and outgoings at Parkhead.

Notably, Kieran Tierney will complete an emotional return to Celtic on a free transfer once his contract at Arsenal officially expires. Expected to be joined by plenty of new faces, the Scotland international is likely to become the preferred choice at left-back ahead of next season’s Champions League qualifiers.

Honing in on the engine room, the Hoops also have Augsburg midfielder Elvis Rexhbecaj on their radar and the Kosovo international may be attainable for a fee between £3 million and £3.5 million.

Celtic’s upcoming fixtures as run-in begins for Brendan Rodgers

St Johnstone (A)

Scottish Premiership

Kilmarnock (H)

Scottish Premiership

St Johnstone

Scottish Cup semi-final

Optimism is high in Glasgow’s east end over new signings, though several key stars may be linked with moves elsewhere following an excellent campaign for all involved at Parkhead. Reo Hatate, Nicolas Kuhn and Daizen Maeda are all players Rodgers will be desperate to keep hold of heading into 2025/26.

Nevertheless, the former Liverpool boss may be forced to part ways with one of his established core in the off-season, per recent developments.

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According to The Daily Record, Dinamo Zagreb have put forward a contract offer to Celtic star Greg Taylor that is deemed to be a ‘significant increase’ on his current £15,000 weekly pay packet at Parkhead.

The Scotland international has also attracted interest from Major League Soccer, which isn’t dead in the water, but a switch Croatia’s reigning champions appears to be his likeliest port of call. Rodgers previously emboldened him to extend his time at the club, though has now publicly conceded defeat on that front.

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Taylor has gone on to become a valiant servant for Celtic since arriving from Kilmarnock back in 2019, registering nine goals and 32 assists in 208 appearances across all competitions.

Playing his part in the Bhoys claiming ten trophies, the Greenock-born man has earned respect from his peers north of the border after seeing off the likes of Boli Bolingoli, Diego Laxalt and Alexandro Bernabei for the first-choice left-back slot in Glasgow.

However, all good things come to an end, and it appears that Tierney’s arrival from Arsenal has prompted Taylor to look elsewhere as he approaches the prime of his career.

Newcastle United are now closely monitoring a “monster” forward, who has been likened to Sergio Aguero, having watched him in action recently, according to a report.

Newcastle ramping up summer transfer plans

As we enter April, and thus the business end of the Premier League season, Newcastle still have a lot to play for, with Champions League qualification still very much in their sights, having already made the 2024-25 campaign a memorable one by lifting the EFL Cup.

The type of summer transfer window the Magpies have is likely to hinge upon whether they qualify for Europe’s elite competition, given that it will enable them to attract some top players, but they have already started to work on some potential signings.

PIF have reportedly made a £50m+ offer for Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott, which may be difficult for the Reds to turn down, while they also hold an interest in teammate Diogo Jota, with some suggestions the Portugal international could be used as a makeweight in a deal for Alexander Isak.

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Jota is not the only forward in Eddie Howe’s sights, however, with a report from The Boot Room revealing scouts have now been sent to watch Besiktas’ Semih Kilicsoy, who helped his side to a 2-1 victory over rivals Galatasaray at the weekend.

Scouts from West Ham United, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest were also in attendance, with Galatasaray’s Baris Alper Yilmaz another player of interest to the English delegations.

The Magpies are said to be watching Kilicsoy closely, however, and with a busy transfer window planned on Tyneside, he could be in line for a move to St. James’ Park.

"Monster" Kilicsoy showing promising signs in Turkey

The report references the Besiktas winger’s nickname of the “Turkish Aguero”, and much like the Manchester City legend, his favoured position is striker, where he netted 11 goals in 23 Süper Lig appearances last term.

After showing signs of promise in a breakthrough campaign last season, however, the teenager hasn’t been quite as prolific this year, netting three league goals, although it must be noted he is still just 19.

As such, with Besiktas’ asking price allegedly dropping to just £12m, it could still be worth taking a risk on the Turkish youngster this summer, particularly considering he has received high praise from members of the media.

That said, Kilicsoy’s performances this season indicate he could take a little while to get to grips with the Premier League, so it could be worth Newcastle sending him out on loan, should they decide to pursue a deal this summer.

It was another miserable game for Tottenham Hotspur last night.

Ange Postecoglou’s side travelled to Stamford Bridge hoping to turn things around with what would have been an unlikely win, but instead of doing that, they practically handed Chelsea all three points.

It was an entirely lifeless performance from the North Londoners and one that could well seal the manager’s fate.

One of the worst displays came from James Maddison, who continues to frustrate in the middle of the park, which is something he might not be able to do for too much longer, as Hotspur Way is currently brewing the perfect replacement.

Maddison's frustrating Spurs career

When Tottenham completed the £40m signing of Maddison in the summer of 2023, there was plenty of understandable excitement from fans as he had just produced 19 goal involvements for a relegated Leicester City.

His initial form for the North Londoners justified this excitement as well as he produced eight goal involvements in his first ten league games for the club, but then he picked up an ankle injury against Chelsea, and when he returned in late January, the problems began.

Instead of being a game-changing midfielder, capable of controlling matches and tearing opposition defences to shreds, he became far more passive, lacklustre and simply ineffective, picking up just five goal involvements across his final 17 league appearances.

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This season has been just as frustrating, as while he has managed to score 11 goals and provide seven assists in just 39 games, he continues to put in incredibly inconsistent performances.

One week, he’s like the player we saw at the start of last season, and then in the next, he’s a total passenger.

We saw the latter in the game last night, as even though it was a derby between two teams and fanbases who do not like one another, he was practically anonymous in the middle of the park, coming off in the 81st minute with no goals or assists, having lost five out of five duels and with a combined expected goal and assists figure of just 0.11, which is nowhere good enough for the team’s creative hub.

It’s hard to see where Maddison goes from here, as nobody doubts his talent, but he is seemingly unable to produce consistently enough for a top side, and if he’s not careful, he could see himself replaced by one of the most exciting players currently in the academy.

The Spurs academy star who could replace Maddison

While Mikey Moore, Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray have all made a mark on the first team this season, we could see an even more exciting youngster do the same next year: Lucá Williams-Barnett.

The 17-year-old phenom is undoubtedly the most promising prospect in the academy at the moment and could be battling Maddison for a place as the midfield’s chief creator sooner rather than later.

Now, that might sound like hyperbole, but we really don’t think it is, as in just 17 appearances this season, totalling 1375 minutes, the young maestro has already amassed a frankly absurd haul of 18 goals and nine assists.

Appearances

17

Starts

16

Minutes

1375′

Goals

18

Assists

9

Goal Involvements per Match

1.58

Minutes per Goal Involvement

50.92′

That means he is currently averaging 1.58 goal involvements every game, or one every 50.92 minutes, which is the sort of incredible output that could and really should see him introduced into the first team next season.

Moreover, the Luton-born gem is also incredibly versatile and has made appearances in left midfield, on both wings and even up top, leading to academy expert and pundit John Wenham to describe him as a “cheat-code.”

Ultimately, Maddison might still have one more season of being the team’s recognised ten purely down to the age of Williams-Barnett, but if he doesn’t massively improve soon, then the teenage sensation could take his spot in the coming years, and, based on his output in the academy, we wouldn’t be surprised to see that happen.

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Wolverhampton Wanderers have now joined the race for a “top” player who legendary striker Didier Drogba is a huge fan of, but there could be competition for his signature from a number of rival Premier League clubs, according to a report.

Wolves' summer transfer plans

At one stage in the campaign, relegation from the Premier League was a very real threat, but Vitor Pereira has managed to steer Wolves clear of the bottom three, with the gap widening to 12 points after the 2-1 victory at Ipswich Town last time out.

The job may not be done mathematically, but Pereira can now start to look ahead to the summer transfer window, and the manager will be aiming to bring in players capable of helping his side push much further up the table next season.

Amid doubts over Matheus Cunha’s future, bringing in a new goal threat may be of key significance to Pereira, and a move for FC Twente attacking midfielder Sem Steijn is now being plotted, with the 23-year-old scoring a remarkable 27 goals this season.

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Not only could the Old Gold look to bolster their attacking options, but there are now suggestions they could bring in a new goalkeeper, with a report from Football Insider revealing they are now checking on Angers’ Yahia Fofana.

Fofana is said to be viewed as one of the best young goalkeepers in Europe, given his impressive performances in Ligue 1 this season, which have led to interest from a whole host of Premier League clubs, with Newcastle United and Brentford also keen.

Not only that, but former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba is a big fan of the goalkeeper, having previously convinced him to play internationally for the Ivory Coast, rather than France, the country of his birth.

Despite the level of his performances this season, the 24-year-old could be available for the bargain fee of just £15m this summer, potentially making the goalkeeper an even more attractive option for Wolves.

Fofana lauded as a "top" goalkeeper

Drogba is not the only person who admires the Angers shot-stopper, with football scout Ben Mattinson singling him out for praise back in February.

Despite his side losing 1-0 against Paris Saint-Germain last time out, the 6 foot 4 colossus was one of the best players on the pitch, preventing 1.64 goals and making two big saves to keep his side in the game.

Jose Sa has received heavy criticism at times this season, with Jamie Carragher particularly scathing in his review of the 32-year-old’s performances, and Fofana’s displays in Ligue 1 indicate he could be a fantastic long-term replacement.

This summer transfer window is a huge one for Tottenham Hotspur if they are to rise up the Premier League next season, making amends for the dismal campaign endured in 2024/25.

The club’s bottom-half standing has led to questions being asked about Ange Postecoglou’s future at the club, with it unclear whether he’ll be in charge for 2025/26.

However, their progression into the Europa League semi-final against Bodo Glimt may save his career in North London – potentially able to end their 17-year wait for a trophy.

If the Aussie does manage to pull off such a feat over the next couple of weeks, he will need to be backed in the market by the owner to allow him to take the side to the next level.

It appears no time has been wasted ahead of the summer transfer window, already making serious moves to strengthen the side in numerous key areas.

The latest on Spurs’ pursuit for new attackers this summer

Over recent days, Spurs have been targeting reinforcements within the final third, leading to huge rumours over a move for Wolves’ star Matheus Cunha.

The Brazilian only signed a new contract in recent months, but has stated his desire to leave, with any side wanting to land him needing to trigger his £62.5m release clause inserted within his new deal.

The Lilywhites aren’t alone in their hunt for the 25-year-old, with Manchester United, Nottingham Forest and Arsenal also touted with a big-money move for his signature.

The likes of Tyler Dibling and Liam Delap have also been mentioned as potential targets, but not to the extent of Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo, who’s been hugely mentioned as a summer target.

According to one Spanish outlet, Spurs are preparing a £50m bid for the Cherries attacker, who’s reportedly a supporter of North London rivals Arsenal.

Why the £50m target would be the perfect Son replacement

Winger Heung-min Son has been a tremendous servant to Spurs over the last decade, often being the shining light in their side after moving from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2015.

The South Korean international has racked up a staggering 448 appearances for the Lilywhites, scoring on 173 occasions, putting himself fifth in the club’s all-time scoring charts.

However, with the attacker being 33 come the start of next season, it’s safe to say he’s entering the final years of his career as a professional, with a plan needing to be put in place to replace him.

He’s also started to pick up more frequent injury issues, currently being sidelined with a foot issue, missing the Europa League triumph over Eintracht Frankfurt and being ruled out of Monday’s clash with Forest.

As a result, Postecoglou could turn to Semenyo as a summer target, with the Ghanaian certainly the perfect replacement for the fan-favourite during the off-season.

When comparing his stats to Son from the Premier League in 2024/25, the 25-year-old has massively outperformed him in numerous key areas, showcasing how much of a superb addition he would be.

Semenyo, who’s been labelled “world-class” by The Athletic’s Richard Amofa, has registered more goals in the league to date, whilst also managing more shots on target per game, highlighting his threat within attacking areas.

Games played

32

28

Goals scored

8

7

Shots taken

3.7

2.4

Shots on target

1.2

1

Tackles & Interceptions

1.9

1

Take-ons completed

2.1

1.3

Aerials won

1.9

0.3

He’s also completed more take-ons per 90, along with more aerials won, offering Ange an all-round presence in the final third, playing a massive role in their potential success next campaign.

£50m may be a huge investment from the hierarchy, but it’s needed should the side return to the heights they’ve set for themselves in numerous seasons in North London.

Semenyo has demonstrated the qualities he possesses this season, with a big move needed, opening the door for a transfer to Spurs, and giving him a great platform to take his own career to the next level.

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Leeds United have now joined the race for a “phenomenal” striker who could be the “next Harry Kane”, but there could be competition for his signature from a Premier League club, according to a report.

Leeds stepping up summer transfer plans

Following the 2-1 victory against Preston North End on Saturday afternoon, Leeds are on the brink of promotion, with Sheffield United’s shock defeat against Plymouth Argyle leaving Daniel Farke’s side five points clear with four games left to play.

However, the fact that all three of 2023-24’s promoted clubs are set to be relegated from Premier League this season will serve as a reminder that Farke must strengthen his squad this summer, should his side achieve their aim of Championship promotion.

The Whites are now stepping up their summer transfer plans, and a £3.5m bid for Montpellier defender Modibo Sagnan is now being considered, with the 26-year-old viewed as a potential replacement for Maximilian Wober.

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There are also doubts over Illan Meslier, given that the Frenchman has made a number of costly mistakes this season, and Southampton’s Aaron Ramsdale is being eyed, with the Englishman available for around £25m due to a relegation release clause.

Not only are Leeds looking to strengthen in defence, but they could also look to bolster their attacking options this summer, with a report from TEAMtalk revealing they have now joined the race for Brighton & Hove Albion striker Evan Ferguson.

Ferguson was valued at £45m during the January transfer window, and the Irishman is attracting interest from the Whites and Everton ahead of the summer, despite a disappointing spell on loan at West Ham United.

West Ham’s loan agreement doesn’t include an option to buy, which means the race for the 20-year-old will be wide open this summer, and there is a feeling Brighton will be willing to sanction his departure.

"Phenomenal" Ferguson could be "next Harry Kane"

The Ireland international’s spell at West Ham hasn’t gone exactly to plan, failing to score in six appearances for the Hammers, but he is still very young, and it is clear he has a lot of potential.

The youngster has previously been lauded as a “phenomenal finisher” and “the Premier League’s next Harry Kane” by members of the media, while he has also been singled out for praise by the Bayern Munich striker himself.

Ahead of England’s clash with Ireland earlier this season, Kane said: “I think he’s a good player, he’s a great finisher and obviously he will be a threat for them tomorrow night. I appreciate good strikers who score goals and he seems to be able to do that quite well.”

Despite his recent struggles, Ferguson could be an excellent signing for Leeds this summer, capable of providing enough goals to give Farke’s side a fighting chance of avoiding the drop.

Victory in the Merseyside derby appears to have been a false dawn, with Liverpool’s late-season decline very much still here after an error-strewn display saw Fulham claim victory over Arne Slot in the Premier League.

It was actually the first time that Liverpool and Slot had tasted defeat on the road in this term’s top flight, but stepping into the bracing summer air feels a distance away yet, for Fulham benefitted from some elementary defensive mistakes from the away side’s experienced and successful defenders.

Virgil van Dijk’s concerning but perhaps overblown dip in form continued, rarely at ease against the Londoners’ frontline and notably turned inside out by a Bergkamp-esque touch from Rodrigo Muniz, who proved to seal the win by scoring Fulham’s decisive third goal before the break.

However, Van Dijk, 33, is still one of the – if not the – best centre-backs in Europe; tying Liverpool’s captain down to one final contract is crucial.

The same can’t be said for Andrew Robertson, whose unwavering belief in his ability is admirable, but not enough given errors and a startling drop in athleticism and creativity have put his performances under a microscope this year.

Why Andy Robertson needs to be replaced

Robertson joined Liverpool way back when. Hull City’s talented full-back couldn’t save the Tigers from relegation in 2016/17, and so Jurgen Klopp saw an opportunity, swooped in and snapped him up for a cool £8m fee.

Now, he’s entering the twilight stage of his trophy-adorned career. Aged 31, Robertson has spent many years playing expertly in a high-octane, big-expectation outfit, but he’s past his best, with the defeat at Fulham the latest game in which he’s been culpable for a “dreadful error,” as was remarked by The Athletic’s James Pearce.

The Scotland captain also ceded possession on 12 occasions despite failing to complete a single key pass to help Liverpool’s attacking fluency, as per Sofascore.

It would be unfair to rebuke Robertson too harshly. He might be something of a weak link but he’s still been an important part of Liverpool’s campaign and is heading toward his second Premier League title.

But he needs replacing, for sure.

Plans have been mapped out already, it seems like Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez is one of FSG’s most pressing transfer targets ahead of the summer window.

However, Robertson’s not the only player who showed in the capital that they need to be sold, with a ‘world-class’ star potentially having played his last.

Liverpool need to sell "world-class" star

Replacing Robertson would be for the greater good of Slot’s project, but there are one or two more regular starters on Merseyside who might also be cashed in this summer.

Caoimhin Kelleher being one of them. The goalkeeper has been brilliant as Liverpool’s back-up between the sticks, featuring 67 times in total for the first team, but his unconvincing performance against Fulham underscored the reasoning behind FSG’s decision to allow him to move away, to sign a replacement.

Fulham put three past their opponents at the weekend despite only accumulating an xG total of just 0.79, which basically means that Liverpool should really have prevented two, if not all three, of the strikes.

It’s becoming clear that Kelleher needs to be sold, having risen from Liverpool’s academy graduate to achieve a sort of cult status, so instrumental in winning domestic cups over the past few seasons.

Praised as a “world-class” shot-stopper by his skipper, Van Dijk, Kelleher cannot abide another campaign playing second fiddle and fair enough to him. A swarm of clubs were intrigued in signing the £35m-rated star last year, but he ultimately stayed put.

However, the Irishman has pulled no punches in expressing his desire to take the next step in his career and “leave and be a number one.”

However, he’s hardly failed to earn any attention at Anfield. Slot, to whom Alisson is “the best goalkeeper in the world,” has been forced to make do without his number one on many occasions this season. In fact, the 26-year-old’s skills have been called into play regularly over the past couple of years.

Caoimhin Kelleher – Liverpool Stats by Season (all comps)
Season	Apps	Clean Sheets
24/25	20	9
23/24	26	5
22/23	4	2
21/22	8	4
20/21	5	2
19/20	4	2
Stats via Transfermarkt

With Alisson unable to shake persistent injury problems, Kelleher has featured 46 times since the start of last season. His Brazilian counterpart has featured 60 times over the same period.

The Liverpool Echo certainly weren’t impressed, handing Kelleher a 5/10 match rating. While correspondent Ian Doyle noted that the Ireland international could do little about Ryan Sessegnon’s parity-restoring strike, there’s a case to be made that the following strikes could have been prevented, albeit with Iwobi’s shot taking a nicking deflection off the guilty Robertson.

With Giorgi Mamardashvili set to arrive from Valencia in the summer, it makes perfect sense to bank a fee for Kelleher before his deal expires in 2026.

Especially when the Georgian goalkeeper, still only 24, is putting in performances like that of last weekend, when Real Madrid was foiled in their own backyard.

Football is a fickle game and revisionism must be ignored as Liverpool enter this final stretch of the campaign a little sapped and disjointed.

If anything, such a dip would have told Slot more about his tools than the hitherto strength that allowed him to carve through so many of his club’s opponents for the lion’s share of the season.

Liverpool have suffered a few blots on the copybook of late, but make no mistake, this is an extraordinary feat acheived down Anfield Road. The Reds are heading toward the Premier League title, but change is sure to be afoot in the market this summer.

In west London, Kelleher, like Robertson, may well have shown why he needs to be sold this summer.

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2

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Back in 2018, then-Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho singled out midfield star, Nemanja Matic, for praise following the FA Cup quarter-final victory over Brighton and Hove Albion, with the Serbian giant described as an “island of personality and desire and control”, while “surrounded by a lack of personality, class and desire”.

It would not be wrong for new boss Ruben Amorim to repeat such a statement with regard to his talismanic skipper, Bruno Fernandes, with the 30-year-old having no doubt been United’s ‘island’ in the drab Manchester derby on Sunday afternoon.

With Amad Diallo having been absent since early February, the onus has largely fallen on Fernandes to make things happen for his side, with the weekend stalemate again no different.

Lauded by MUTV pundit Phil Bardsley as the “best player on the pitch by a country mile”, the Portuguese playmaker is intent on trying to steer this sinking ship to a brighter destination.

Bruno Fernandes

75

Cole Palmer

73

Mo Salah

71

Enzo Fernandez

64

Dejan Kulusevski

63

Mikkel Damsgaard

55

Bryan Mbeumo

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Once there was the “Harry Kane team” – as Tottenham Hotspur were mockingly described by Pep Guardiola in 2017 – with United now in danger of becoming the ‘Bruno Fernandes team’, unless signings of a similar ilk can be found…

Latest on Man Utd's search for a forward

Having now failed to score in 12 Premier League games this season, the priority for Amorim and co this summer will surely be to bolster the misfiring forward line, with the 40-year-old perhaps keen to raid his former side, Sporting CP, to help revive his current ranks.

The Portuguese coach has already missed out on Chelsea-bound teenager, Geovany Quenda, however, while there have been reports that it is ‘unlikely’ that a reunion with Sporting goal machine, Viktor Gyokeres, will take place this summer.

That is a view that has been echoed by a recent report from GIVEMESPORT, with the piece outling that the ‘most likely big-name’ to arrive from the Lisbon outfit is actually Francisco Trincao, rather than Gyokeres.

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Indeed, the former Barcelona and Wolverhampton Wanderers winger is noted as a ‘leading’ alternative to current Molineux star, Matheus Cunha, amid Amorim’s search for a new forward, with the United boss having ‘pinpointed’ Trincao as a viable option.

The 25-year-old – who has a reported £67m release clause in his existing contract – is said to be ‘firmly in Amorim’s sights’ ahead of the start of the window, with the Portuguese ace having already proven himself to be a real weapon in his compatriot’s 3-4-3 set-up.

Why Man Utd could be targeting the next Bruno Fernandes

It almost doesn’t need repeating what Fernandes has achieved in a United shirt thus far, with the experienced midfielder chalking up 95 goals and 83 assists in 279 games in all competitions to date, while winning the Carabao Cup and FA Cup to boot.

Signed from Sporting for a fee of around £46m in January 2020, the playmaking genius had proven his quality during his stint with the Liga Portugal side, racking up 113 goals and assists in just 137 games across all fronts.

While operating in a more advanced role than his international colleague, Trincao – who has ten caps for his country – could well follow in Fernandes’ footsteps, having also dazzled in Lisbon in recent times.

The tricky left-footer boasts 61 goals and assists in 146 games for his current side, with that including a remarkable total of nine goals and 15 assists in 2024/25 thus far. Back at Old Trafford, only Fernandes has chalked up more goal involvements (33) this season.

It was actually Amorim who “launched Trincao’s professional career at Braga” in 2019, as per writer Zach Lowy, before reuniting with him at Sporting, with the in-demand forward having registered 56 goal involvements in 131 games under the current United boss in total.

While he did find life difficult in the Premier League previously at Wolves – after scoring and assisting just four times in 30 games for the Old Gold – he could well be deserving of another crack at it, not least under a familiar face like Amorim.

Once hailed as a “really exciting player” at Molineux by technical director Scott Sellars, Trincao evidently mirrors Fernandes in his creative prowess, having created 14 ‘big chances’ and averaged 2.2 key passes per game in the league this season. Fernandes, for reference, has created 12 ‘big chances’, albeit while averaging 2.5 key passes per game in England’s top flight.

With the Red Devils skipper having dropped into a deep-lying berth of late, his creative influence could then be replicated by the one-time Barca man in one of the two number ten roles, thus helping to try and spark some life into the club’s floundering forward line.

Having seen the magic that Fernandes can conjure up in English football, if Trincao could make a fraction of that impact, then United – and Amorim – will be on to a winner.

Man Utd have struck gold on "shining light" who's worth more than Gyokeres

Man Utd have their own superstar brewing, amid links with Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres

2 ByRobbie Walls Apr 9, 2025