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Aston Villa are currently preparing for one of their biggest matches in recent history with a trip to play Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals of the Champions League this evening.

The Villans come into the first leg clash off the back of a 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest at Villa Park in the Premier League on Saturday, thanks to goals from Morgan Rogers and Donyell Malen.

Unai Emery must be ruthless with his team selection and one brutal decision that should be made is the one to drop Ollie Watkins from the starting line-up.

Why Ollie Watkins should be dropped

The England international is on a barren run of form in front of goal and would not come into this evening’s clash with PSG full of confidence and ready to help the team pick up a historic result.

Watkins has scored one goal in his last nine matches in all competitions for the Villans, which came in a 1-0 win over Brentford towards the start of March.

Ollie Watkins’ last five matches for Aston Villa

Stats

Brentford (PL)

Club Brugge (CL)

Preston (FA Cup)

Brighton (PL)

Forest (PL)

Shots on target

2

1

0

0

0

Goals

1

0

0

0

0

Key passes

0

0

0

0

0

Assists

0

0

0

0

0

Pass accuracy

53%

50%

100%

50%

50%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the 29-year-old striker has offered little at the top end of the pitch whilst also being incredibly wasteful with the ball at his feet in the last five matches, completing just half of his passes in three of those five matches.

With this in mind, Emery must ruthlessly axe Watkins from the team, after he offered next to nothing in the win over Forest, to bring Marcus Rashford back into the side.

Why Marcus Rashford is Aston Villa's answer to Ousmane Dembele

The big threat for the Villans to deal with this evening is likely to be Ousmane Dembele, who has scored 32 goals and provided eight assists in 40 matches in all competitions for PSG this term.

He has played started 17 matches on the wing and 15 games as a centre-forward, highlighting his versatility, and uses his pace and ability on the ball to cause constant problems to opposition defenders.

Rashford is similar to Dembele in many ways, starting seven games on the wing and three times as a striker for Villa, with his versatility at the top end of the pitch as well as his ability to create chances for himself with his pace and the timing of his movements off the shoulder of the last defender.

As you can see in the clip above, the England international showcased his pace and ability in front of goal with his maiden Premier League strike for the Villans against Brighton.

Rashford, once hailed as “unplayable” by analyst Raj Chohan, has scored three goals and provided one assist in his last four matches for the club in all competitions, showing that he is far more in form than Watkins at this moment in time.

His recent goal burst also suggests that he is the kind of player PSG would also be wary of ahead of tonight’s game, in the same that Villa be wary of Dembele, which is why Emery must unleash him from the start after he was on the bench against Forest.

Interestingly, Rashford has played the most games (four) and scored the most goals (three) against PSG out of all of his appearances in the Champions League in his career to date, suggesting that they are a favourable match-up for the English forward.

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Posts ByKelan Sarson Apr 8, 2025

The 27-year-old marksman has punished the Parisian side in the past and Emery must ditch Watkins to put Rashford in a position to break French hearts in the Champions League once again.

Daizen Maeda added another two goals to his tally in Celtic’s 3-0 win at Parkhead in their Scottish Premiership clash last weekend.

The Japan international has now racked up 30 goals and nine assists in 43 appearances in all competitions for the Hoops so far this season, as he has proven himself to be a reliable figure in front of goal for Brendan Rodgers.

TEAMtalk recently reported that teams from Italy and Germany, as well as elsewhere across Europe, have taken an interest in the Japanese forward ahead of the summer transfer window.

The outlet did not name any of the interested clubs but did reveal that it would take significantly more than £10m to prise him away from Parkhead, which could result in him being one of the most expensive sales in Celtic’s history if he moves on later this year.

As you can see in the graphic above, an exit for more than £10m would place him among the top ten biggest sales in club history, alongside the likes of Jota, Virgil van Dijk, and Jeremie Frimpong.

Of those ten sales, Celtic may rue not being able to cash in on van Dijk for even more money than the £13m they did get from Southampton for him, given what the centre-back has gone on to achieve.

Virgil van Dijk's soaring market value since leaving Celtic

The Netherlands international joined the club from Groningen in the summer of 2013 and went on to score 15 goals in 115 first-team appearances for the Hoops across two seasons in Glasgow.

Van Dijk’s form at the heart of the Celtic defence earned him a £13m move to Premier League side Southampton in the summer of 2015, and that was a significant profit on the £2.6m that they had paid Groningen for his services.

However, it was the Saints who ended up landing the biggest profit of the Dutchman’s career as they went on to sell him to Liverpool for a reported world-record fee – for a defender – of £75m in January 2018.

This meant that Southampton made a mind-boggling profit of £62m on the central defender, compared to the £10.4m profit that Celtic made on him after two years in Glasgow.

As you can see in the clips above, Van Dijk has gone on to become a terrific defender for Liverpool over the years, racking up 311 appearances in all competitions and winning a Premier League and a Champions League trophy.

Celtic may, now, look back on their deal to sell the Dutch colossus to Southampton and wonder if they could have held out for more money, given the incredible value that he went on to accrue.

Several years after van Dijk’s departure from Parkhead, the Hoops had a centre-back on their hands who was tipped to be the club’s next version of the Liverpool superstar.

Celtic star who was tipped to be the next Virgil van Dijk

The Scottish giants had signed Leo Hjelde from Rosenborg’s academy at U18 level in the summer of 2019 and the young defender came up through the ranks before eventually getting his senior breakthrough on loan at Ross County in the second half of the 2020/21 campaign.

In those five months, the Norwegian central defender, who was born in Nottingham, started ten of his 11 appearances for the club at the age of just 17.

20/21 Premiership

Leo Hjelde

Appearances

11

Starts

10

Interceptions per game

1.8

Tackles per game

1.7

Clearances per game

3.3

Ground duel success rate

51%

Aerial duel success rate

38%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Hjelde got stuck in during his time at Ross County, making plenty of tackles, clearances, and interceptions each match, although – as expected at the age of 17 – he did struggle a bit with his physical duels.

Ross County manager John Hughes saw enough from the Norway youth international to compare him to Virgil van Dijk, adding that he hoped that the defender would go on to be a regular at Parkhead.

He told the Press and Journal: “One hundred percent, Leo is going to be the next Van Dijk. Trust me on that. I would love to see him make his debut for Celtic and become a regular. I would love nothing more to see him running out there.”

These quotes, and his form in the Premiership at such a young age, suggested that Hjelde had a bright future in Glasgow, but that is not how it worked out.

What happened to Leo Hjelde

Instead of getting a chance in the first-team under Ange Postecoglou, who arrived at Celtic in the same summer that the centre-back returned from his loan spell, the defender was sold.

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Towards the end of August in the summer transfer window, Hjelde was sold to Premier League side Leeds United for a reported fee of £1m, without making a single first-team appearance for Celtic during his two years at the club.

Postecoglou brought Cameron Carter-Vickers, who remains a key first-team figure to date, in on loan from Tottenham Hotspur and signed Carl Starfelt on a permanent deal from Rubin Kazan, which made Hjelde’s task of breaking into the senior side all the more difficult.

Unfortunately, though, the 21-year-old defender has not had much more luck elsewhere in his career. He only played eight first-team matches for Leeds before his permanent move to Sunderland in January 2024.

Leo Hjelde (Championship)

23/24

24/25

Appearances

12

10

Starts

11

2

Tackles + interceptions per game

1.9

0.9

Clearances per game

2.6

1.2

Ground duel success rate

51%

43%

Aerial duel success rate

57%

63%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Hjelde seemed to hit the ground running as a regular starter in the second half of last season, only to lose his place in the side in the current campaign.

The 21-year-old, who can play at centre-back or left-back, has been an unused substitute for 25 Championship games under Regis Le Bris, which suggests that he has not done enough to impress the manager to earn more minutes on the pitch.

At his young age, there is still plenty of time left for Hjelde to turn his career around, whether that is at Sunderland or elsewhere, to deliver on the early promise he showed to earn a comparison to Van Dijk at the age of 17.

However, at this moment in time, Postecoglou’s decision to allow the promising young centre-back to move on from Celtic for £1m appears to have been a fair decision, as the Norwegian youngster is yet to prove the Australian manager wrong by fulfilling his potential.

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Posts ByDan Emery Apr 1, 2025

Everton are enjoying a relatively stress-free Premier League run-in, but they do now have an injury issue to contend with heading into their final matches of the season.

Everton set for big changes as new era dawns

Goodison Park will soon be given an emotional farewell as David Moyes prepares to lead the club into a new era at Bramley Moore Dock, which he will hope coincides with some exciting incomings once the window opens.

Internally, the Scot has several decisions to make on loanees and out-of-contract stars. Loanees Jesper Lindstrom, Jack Harrison, Armando Broja and Orel Mangala don’t know where they will play their football next season, while Carlos Alcaraz is set to sign permanently from Flamengo.

Casting an eye towards the market, Everton have joined the pursuit of Benfica striker Vangelis Pavlidis alongside several other clubs such as Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest.

Furthermore, the Blues are also in pursuit of Ipswich Town forward Liam Delap. However, Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion will provide stiff competition for the England Under-21 international.

Strengthening across the front four appears to be a priority for Moyes, given he has had numerous injury problems in the forward areas alongside Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s contract status.

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Posts ByEthan Lamb Apr 10, 2025

Coping with absences while managing a squad you have had little time to alter is a difficult task, so it is only fair that Moyes takes major credit for Everton’s stable footing in the Premier League standings.

Nevertheless, he has another fire to fight heading into upcoming fixtures following confirmation that one of his stars will now be sidelined.

Everton star set for spell on the sidelines after surgery

Speaking ahead of Everton’s trip to take on Nottingham Forest, Moyes confirmed that loanee Lindstrom has undergone a hernia operation and he will now be out for ‘most of the season’ as a result.

He stated: “Jesper has had a hernia operation yesterday so that will rule Jesper out for most of the season now. That’s disappointing for him and for us because he started to show some decent form in the last month or so and he was an important player for us.”

Jesper Lindstrom’s loan spell at Everton – has he done enough to earn a permanent stay?

Goals

0

Assists

1

Chances created – (Premier League)

19

Successful dribbles – (Premier League)

17

Duels won – (Premier League)

69

Despite his lack of goal contributions, Lindstrom, a £50,000 per week earner, has emerged as a valuable asset. It is perhaps a little unfortunate that he has not seen better numbers for his work at both ends of the field.

However, it remains to be seen if Everton opt to go in a different direction as they seek quality reinforcements on the flank. His impact has been curtailed due to injury, which may represent a natural opportunity for a clean break between all parties.

Celtic do a lot of things right on the pitch and that is why they have had so much success in domestic football over the years, with a treble on the cards this season.

The Hoops are set to win the Scottish Premiership title for the fourth season running and made their way to the final of the SFA Cup with a 5-0 win over St. Johnstone at Hampden Park on Sunday.

Brendan Rodgers has built a relentless team that is hungry to win at every opportunity, which is evidenced by their form this season across all competitions.

It took German giants Bayern Munich to narrowly knock the Hoops out of the Champions League, whilst they have already won the League Cup, and are on course to win the Premiership and the SFA Cup.

Celtic do not get everything right, though, as no club can be expected to be perfect in all areas, and one aspect of the game that they may want to improve is their pathway from the academy to the first-team.

Callum McGregor, 31, is the only academy graduate to have started more than six league games for the club this season, whilst no academy graduate under the age of 26 has started a single league match, and the Hoops have fumbled exciting prospects from their youth set-up in the past.

How Celtic fumbled Karamoko Dembele

Karamoko Dembele joined the Bhoys at the age of 10 in 2013 and, unbelievably, played for the U20 side at the age of just 13, which led to comparisons to Barcelona legend Lionel Messi.

David Feeney, who coached the forward at youth level, compared him to the Argentine icon, saying: “I think he is very similar to Lionel Messi. If he has the right guidance, then the sky is the limit for him.”

Dembele went on to make his first-team debut in the Premiership at the end of the 2018/19 campaign, playing 45 minutes off the bench against Hearts, but he only played seven times in the following two seasons and then suffered a fractured ankle in the summer of 2021 that stunted his development under Ange Postecoglou.

After just ten appearances and 133 minutes of action on the pitch for the first-team, Celtic and Postecoglou opted to release the young forward in the summer of 2022.

Dembele joined Stade Brest on a free transfer ahead of the 2022/23 campaign and has spent the last two seasons on loan in England, with Blackpool and Queens Park Rangers, respectively.

Karamoko Dembele

Blackpool (League One)

QPR (Championship)

Starts

29

13

xG

N/A

1.14

Goals

8

2

Big chances created

15

4

Key passes per game

2.0

1.1

Assists

13

4

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the 22-year-old attacker has provided quality in both League One and the Championship since the start of last season, scoring ten goals and providing 17 assists.

The left-footed whiz may not have lived up to the Messi comparison yet, but he has still forged a decent career for himself so far and is one that Celtic fumbled before he got the chance to prove himself with regular minutes on the pitch.

Dembele is not the only promising youngster who has been fumbled by the Scottish giants, though. The Hoops had Ben Doak emerge at a similar time and also failed to see the best of his talents at Parkhead.

Why Ben Doak was Karamoko Dembele 2.0

Just like Dembele, Doak came up through the youth ranks in Glasgow and caught the eye enough at academy level to earn a first-team breakthrough at a young age.

The left-footed starlet played 25 minutes over two matches off the bench in the Scottish Premiership at the age of 16 in the 2021/22 campaign under Postecoglou, which meant that he made his senior bow at the end of Dembele’s time at Parkhead.

Unfortunately, however, it was also the end of Doak’s time in Glasgow because he was out of contract at the end of that season and decided to move on to new pastures.

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The Scotland youth international decided to join Premier League giants Liverpool for a compensation fee of just £600k, which meant that the Bhoys lost him on the cheap because they could not get him to commit his long-term future to Glasgow.

Celtic may look back on his time at the club with regret and wonder if they could have done more, with extra game time on the pitch, to convince him to stay.

Doak played ten first-team games for the Reds in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 campaigns combined before joining Middlesbrough on loan last summer, thriving in the Championship this season.

24/25 Championship

Ben Doak

Starts

21

Goals

3

Big chances created

7

Key passes per game

1.9

Assists

7

Dribbles completed per game

1.5

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the 19-year-old star has racked up ten goals and assists combined in 21 starts in the division, whilst Dembele has managed two goals and four assists for QPR in the same league at the age of 22.

These statistics suggest that Doak, who was described as a “generational” Scottish talent by analyst John Walker, could be an even greater prospect than Dembele, whilst playing in a similar position on the flank.

The Middlesbrough loanee has shown great promise in his performances in the Championship and, therefore, will be another Celtic academy graduate who the club may look back on with regret as they failed to extract the maximum out of his talent before his time at the club was up.

Doak only had 25 minutes on the pitch for the Hoops at senior level and his form for Boro in England suggests that the Scottish giants could have had an incredibly exciting wing talent on their hands if they had managed to keep hold of him back in 2022.

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Posts ByDan Emery Apr 21, 2025

The cult of Scott McTominay is growing in Naples, with the former Manchester United man having emerged as the unlikely spearhead of the Serie A side’s charge toward the title in Italy.

Now shining alongside another ex-Red Devil in Romelu Lukaku, the towering midfielder has now scored 11 league goals in 2024/25 to date, a record that places him above every player in Ruben Amorim’s current ranks.

Indeed, the 6 foot 4 sensation has been particularly vital in recent weeks after popping up with five goals across just his last three Serie A games, having scored more league goals in those outings than Rasmus Hojlund has done all season back in Manchester.

Whether it is perhaps with hindsight in mind, there is a nagging feeling that maybe the INEOS regime were wrong to cash in on the 28-year-old last summer, despite raking in a £25m fee, with Erik ten Hag having been adamant that he “didn’t want” to sell the unsung star at the time.

As it is, the experienced powerhouse is now the new king of Napoli, with United turning their attention elsewhere amid the need to bolster the midfield ranks…

Latest on Man Utd's search for a midfielder

The priority positions this summer may well be a new striker and a goalkeeper, as outlined by the Manchester Evening News, although there is certainly work to be done to strengthen in the centre of the park.

With 33-year-old playmaker Christian Eriksen set to depart following the looming expiry of his contract – and with fellow veteran Casemiro likely to be linked with an exit of his own – options in the midfield two will be slim next term, outside of Manuel Ugarte and Bruno Fernandes.

Equally, with Kobbie Mainoo having been pushed into a more advanced number ten role of late – a position that Fernandes could still return to – that dearth of options is exposed even more, hence the need to hand Amorim some quality reinforcements.

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According to reports in Spain – via Football 365 – the Old Trafford outfit have set their sights on Barcelona’s Fermin Lopez, with the promising Spaniard viewed as the ‘perfect fit’ for Amorim’s 3-4-3.

Indeed, the report goes as far as to suggest that such interest has even led United and INEOS to now be readying an offer for the 22-year-old, said to be worth in the region of €30m (£25m).

That proposal is said to have sparked something of a ‘divide’ at Camp Nou, with the LaLiga giants viewing Lopez – who boasts a €500m (£425m) release clause – as a ‘key player’, albeit while remaining open to a sale amid their ‘complicated’ financial situation.

There are also doubts over whether the player himself actually wants to make the move, although if he can be convinced, it could represent a real coup for INEOS.

Why Fermin Lopez would be a good signing

As evidenced during Wednesday’s thrilling Champions League, first-leg semi-final clash with Inter, the current incarnation of Barcelona are a truly mouthwatering prospect, spearheaded by the devastating brilliance of Lamine Yamal, Pedri and Raphinha.

In a side that boasts so much attacking and midfield quality, including the likes of Dani Olmo and Frenkie de Jong too, young Lopez has largely been forced to take on an impact role under Hansi Flick, having actually started just 16 games in all competitions this season.

To his credit, the La Masia graduate has taken his chance whenever he has been called upon, after contributing four goals and nine assists in total in 2024/25, including a return of one goal and four assists on the continent.

Fermin Lopez – 23/24 & 24/25 (LaLiga stats)

Stat (*per game)

23/24

24/25

Games (starts)

31 (14)

23 (9)

Goals

8

3

Assists

0

4

Big chances created

1

5

Key passes*

0.6

0.8

Pass accuracy*

85%

86%

Tackles*

1.3

0.8

Interceptions*

0.1

0.2

Balls recovered*

2.3

2.4

Stats via Sofascore

Described by former boss Xavi Hernandez as the “whole package” in the past, the United target is certainly not the main man in Catalonia, but is a real threat from his advanced midfield role, having even registered two goals and two assists in the 7-1 thrashing of Valencia earlier in the campaign.

That role as a box-crashing substitute certainly sounds familiar, with that the status that McTominay enjoyed last term at the Theatre of Dreams under Ten Hag, having chalked up ten goals across all fronts.

The all-action star memorably scored twice in stoppage time to seal a dramatic comeback win over Brentford in that 2023/24 season, having also sealed victory away at Villa Park with a bullet header late on.

While Lopez may be of far smaller stature at just 5 foot 9, he does mirror McTominay with regard to his ball-carrying prowess, as shown in the fact that he ranks in the top 19% of his LaLiga peers for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref. His Napoli counterpart, meanwhile, ranks in the top 14% in that regard in Serie A.

Equally too, the duo are alike with regard to their attitude and application, despite not often taking the spotlight. As Xavi said of Lopez, he “is hungry and has a great character”, while in the case of McTominay, he had been tipped to be a future “captain” of Man United by interim coach, Ralf Rangnick due to his “leadership skills”.

Such qualities are vital in any squad, with Amorim likely to relish the chance to work with a player of Lopez’s quality and mindset.

Like McTominay before him, he may go under the radar amid the bright lights around him, although the two-cap Spain international may well be perfect for either the midfield two or one of the two number ten berths next season at Old Trafford.

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Posts ByRobbie Walls May 1, 2025

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim said it best back in March, following the 1-1 draw at home to Arsenal: “we need more Brunos”.

As the Portuguese coach said of his compatriot, Bruno Fernandes is a player who simply “steps up all the time” for United, with it hard to imagine just where the club would be without his talismanic presence.

It’s fair to say that they almost certainly would not be in a Europa League final, with the 30-year-old having scored six times in the knockout stage alone to drag the Red Devils to Bilbao, with that record including a hat-trick against Real Sociedad, alongside a brace against Athletic Club.

Not just the villain of the Basque sides, Fernandes has also been the shining light of a wretched Premier League campaign, leading the way for both goals and assists, despite failing to score in the top-flight until Ruud van Nistelrooy’s interim arrival.

Unsurprisingly the subject of interest from Saudi Arabia, the former Sporting CP star appears to be among a select few who are deemed unsellable by the INEOS regime, with it hard to put a price on the captain’s staggering importance.

Attacking midfielders – Europe’s top five leagues

Player

G/A

Goals

Assists

Cole Palmer

24

15

9

Florian Wirtz

23

10

13

Andrej Kramaric

19

11

8

Justin Kluivert

18

12

6

Bruno Fernandes

18

8

10

Morgan Rogers

18

8

10

Jude Bellingham

17

8

9

Oihan Sancet

16

15

1

Jamal Musiala

16

12

4

Stats via Transfermarkt

Rather than cashing in this summer, the Old Trafford side should instead be aiming to build a side around Fernandes, one which can actually begin to think of challenging at the summit.

The latest on Man Utd's transfer search

Much of the talk this week has been centred around United’s pursuit of former Manchester City starlet, Liam Delap, with reports indicating that the club are actually leading the race for the 22-year-old’s signature.

Available for £30m, due to the presence of a relegation clause in his current deal at Ipswich Town, the 12-goal striker would represent an affordable option for INEOS this summer, amid the need to replace Rasmus Hojlund as the club’s leading number nine.

Elsewhere, meanwhile, reports in Brazil have indicated that the Old Trafford hierarchy are closing in on the capture of Wolverhampton Wanderers ace, Matheus Cunha, with a deal for the 25-year-old expected to reach around €80m (£67m), including add-ons.

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As per GOAL, the suggestion is that United are nearing a “verbal agreement” for the wantaway Brazilian, with the “final steps” regarding personal terms also taking place to prise the forward from Molineux.

The report does note that despite Arsenal having made an approach of their own for the former Atletico Madrid man, it is the Red Devils who still remain ahead in the race, amid a desire to get the deal over the coming weeks.

Any signing, considering United’s past recruitment record, should be considered a gamble these days, although Cunha’s capture could be the Fernandes-level addition that Amorim is craving.

Why Man Utd need to sign another Fernandes

While Fernandes may still not have won over everyone – with club legend Roy Keane repeatedly stating that “talent is not enough” in relation to the playmaker – it’s fair to say that he is the main man in Manchester. He is the one who will demand the ball at any opportunity, take on the responsibility when others shirk it.

Whether he seeks it out or not, the Portugal international steals the limelight on almost a weekly basis, having looked like a natural fit for the club ever since his Man of the Match display against Wolves back in February 2020.

98 goals and 86 assists have followed in 287 games across those five years, with the creative genius having delivered the goods on a remarkably consistent basis in a United shirt.

It is too early to say whether Cunha can replicate those achievements, although his form over the last two seasons is certainly reason for encouragement. Indeed, 12 league goals last term has been followed by a further 15 this time around.

A man for the big moment, the enigmatic marksman – who also scored at Anfield – memorably netted directly from a corner against Amorim’s side on Boxing Day, the same game in which Fernandes was needlessly dismissed for two yellow cards.

That marked the third time that the Red Devils skipper had been sent off in the early months of the season, with Cunha also a player who sometimes lives on the edge, having received two suspensions of his own in 2025 to date.

Wielded in the right way, that fiery nature can be an effective tool, particularly in a United team that has been so limp of late. As Amorim himself suggested at the weekend, there was a real “lack of urgency” in the defeat to West Ham United.

Cunha may be something of a maverick then, like Fernandes, but he does boast the quality to match, having been lauded for his “absolutely sensational” footballing IQ by BBC pundit Micah Richards.

As he showed against United back in December, he is a player who will grab a game by the scruff of the neck, while having that ability to win the game on his own.

Now the same age as Fernandes was when he rocked up in Manchester half a decade ago, Cunha will hopefully prove to be a signing of similar ilk for INEOS and for Amorim.

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Posts ByRobbie Walls May 13, 2025

Fair to say it’s been an eventful season for Tottenham Hotspur supporters, but it could have the happiest of endings.

Spurs have lost 19 Premier League matches this season to date, one more would be their most in a single campaign since 1935, thereby languishing 16th in the table.

However, on Thursday night, the Lilywhites overcame Bodø/Glimt in the Arctic Circle, so will now face Manchester United in the Europa League Final at San Mamés on 21 May.

Thus, Ange Postecoglou is potentially 90 minutes away from delivering Tottenham’s first trophy since 2008 and Champions League qualification, but Sami Mokbel of BBC Sport believes the Aussie could still be sacked, even if his team triumph in Bilbao.

So, who does Daniel Levy have in mind as a potential successor, and could his dream candidate be a José Mourinho repeat?

Tottenham's top target to replace Postecoglou

According to a report by Gianluca Di Marzio, Fulham manager Marco Silva is top of Levy’s list to become the new Spurs boss this summer, adding that the 47-year-old is ‘very popular’ amongst the Tottenham hierarchy.

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As outlined by Dave Tickner of Football 365, there are numerous other candidates in the fray for this post, including Mauricio Pochettino, Kieran McKenna and Scott Parker, as well as Andoni Iraola, who, as noted by Jack Pitt-Brooke and Jay Harris of the Athletic, was the ‘leading candidate’ to get the job.

However, George Flood of the Evening Standard believes Spurs would face a ‘tough battle’ to ‘coax’ the Spaniard away from Bournemouth, hence why Silva now appears to be the front-runner.

So, would the Portuguese be a success in North London, or would he fare similarly to his compatriot who recently occupied the Hotspur hot seat?

Why Marco Silva would be a good fit for Tottenham

If ever a manager has burst onto the scene, Micah Richards style, it’s Marco Silva, first coming to the attention of a Premier League-watching audience in 2017 when he was appointed Hull City manager.

At the time, the Tigers were rock-bottom of the division, having won just one of the previous 18 games and, as outlined by Aaron Barton of Opta’s the Analyst, while he failed to keep Hull up, six wins from nine home games, most-notably beating Liverpool 2-0, caught the eye of others.

So, let’s assess Silva’s managerial career so far.

Marco Silva’s managerial career

Clubs

Tenure

Matches

Win %

Achievements/outcome

Estoril Praia

2011-14

116

46.55%

Segunda Divisão title

Sporting CP

2014-15

53

60.38%

Taça de Portugal

Olympiacos

2015-16

48

79.17%

Greek Super League title

Hull City

2017

22

36.36%

Resigned

Watford

2017-18

26

30.77%

Sacked

Everton

2018-19

60

40%

Sacked

Fulham

2021-present

182

45.86%

EFL Championship title

All statistics and information courtesy of Transfermarkt

As the table outlines, after bouncing around Hull, Watford and Everton, Silva has really found a home in West London, winning the Championship title in 2022, on course to lead Fulham to a third successive mid-table finish, currently knocking on the door of European qualification.

For his work at Craven Cottage, Dean Jones of GiveMeSport has labelled Silva a “genius”, while Mak Pakhei of Total Football Analysis praises his tactical adaptability and flexibility, which allows Fulham to compete against the Premier League’s elite, doing so ‘without heavy investment’.

Meantime, as outlined by Nick Wright of Sky Sports, Silva and the aforementioned Mourinho are ‘old friends’, with the Fulham boss thanking his compatriot for changing how Portuguese coaches are viewed abroad.

Silva has previously been dubbed the ‘new Mourinho’, but their styles are very different, with Silva’s teams more attacking, proactive and on the front-foot.

Well, of course, lest we forget, Mourinho was Spurs manager for a period of time, but supporters would hope Silva’s potential tenure would go rather better, with Jack Pitt-Brooke of the Athletic outlining how José’s ‘defensive tactics…reactive training and repeated public criticism of the players’ in the media resulted in his downfall.

Despite the lazy, nationality-driven comparisons, Silva and Mourinho are very different coaches, and the current Fulham boss appears to have all the attributes to be a success at Spurs, potentially in charge of them for a Champions League campaign come September.

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Despite their huge success in the Premier League this season, changes are expected at Liverpool over the summer window to hand Arne Slot with the funds to bolster his squad.

The Reds claimed the title with multiple games to spare, highlighting the excellent work done by the Dutchman after taking the reins last summer from Jürgen Klopp.

Such an achievement was made even more impressive after making just one addition, but that could be about to change in the coming months.

Even though the transfer window is not yet open, the hierarchy have already laid the foundations for potential business, handing Slot the best possible opportunity to build on his early success at Anfield.

Numerous additions are expected on Merseyside over the summer window, with one player emerging as a potential key target over the last couple of weeks.

The latest on Liverpool’s attempts to sign Florian Wirtz

In recent weeks, Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz has become a key target for Liverpool as Slot looks to bolster the options at his disposal in 2025/26.

The German, who’s registered 30 combined goals and assists this campaign, has been one of the shining lights in the Bundesliga, undoubtedly contributing to the interest from the Reds.

However, they aren’t alone in their pursuit, with Bayern Munich and Manchester also credited with an interest in landing the 22-year-old sensation during the off-season.

Despite the rumours linking him elsewhere, it was reported this week that the Reds were ready to offer a deal to the German outfit to potentially land the young star.

Undoubtedly, a player of his quality will likely cost a small fortune, with other players currently on the books on Merseyside needing to be sacrificed to fund such a deal.

The Liverpool player who earns over 2x more than Wirtz

With the transfer window rapidly approaching, numerous players have been touted with moves away from Liverpool this summer, with many likely to raise key funds.

Darwin Nunez joined for a club-record fee back in the summer of 2022, but has struggled to provide the goods at Anfield, notching just 40 goals in his 142 appearances for the club.

Such form has led to rumours over a potential departure, with the likes of Napoli and Atlético Madrid already interested in making a move to land the Uruguayan international at a cut-price.

However, he may not be the only player out the door this summer, with Slot needing to sell Andy Robertson, especially if Milos Kerkez joins the club in the coming months.

The Hungarian has been touted as a replacement for the Scotsman this summer, with the 31-year-old falling way below the high standards he’s set for himself in recent years.

The defender joined in an £8m deal from Hull City eight years ago, exceeding all expectations and registering 11 goals and 67 assists for the Reds – enabling them to reach new heights in recent seasons.

However, 2024/25 has been a year to forget for Robertson, only registering two assists across all competitions, with his major asset now looking to be ineffective compared to previous campaigns.

Andy Robertson’s stats for Liverpool in the Premier League

Statistics (per 90)

2019/20

2024/25

Games played

36

32

Goals scored

2

0

Assists

12

1

Touches

93.8

64

Pass completion

84%

88%

Key passes

1.7

1.3

Dribbles completed

0.6

0.2

Tackles + interceptions

2.6

1.9

Clearances

1.6

1.3

Duels won

3.4 (51%)

1.9 (49%)

Errors leading to goals

1

2

Stats via SofaScore

Such showings have led to broadcaster Nubaid Haroon claiming that he’s been “struggling” as of late, with his stats produced highlighting his decline in recent years.

His current weekly wage of £160k-per-week doesn’t offer value for money, given his lack of positive impact, with the left-back the fourth-highest earner in the squad.

Such a figure is over two times higher than that of current target Wirtz, who currently earns just £72k-per-week, according to Capology, highlighting how much the club need to cut Robertson from the squad.

Whilst it would be a brutal decision given his tally of 341 appearances for the club, unfortunately, his time has come to be moved on as they prepare for a new era under Slot.

Such a deal to sign him back in 2017 will go down as one of the best in their recent history, undoubtedly being a modern-day icon regardless of what happens this summer.

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Hoping to bounce back from Liam Delap’s rejection, Everton are reportedly alert in the race to sign a Serie A striker who David Moyes “likes” ahead of the summer transfer window.

Everton may need to replace Dominic Calvert-Lewin

As improved as Beto has been under Moyes, there’s no escaping that Everton still need to sign another striker this summer if they are to push beyond relegation concerns at the start of a new era. With Dominic Calvert-Lewin on course to leave the club upon the expiry of his contract next month too, welcoming a player to replace the academy graduate could be the key to success for the Toffees this summer.

Moyes spoke to reporters about Calvert-Lewin’s future at the beginning of May, revealing that the forward had not been offered a new deal at that point. The Everton boss said: “There has not been a contract offer on the table since I’ve been here. I think the contract offer was here under a different regime.

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“We want everybody to fight for what they’re doing, show what they’re worth, so there’s a lot of that. We’re taking a little bit of time – we’ve not had loads of time since January but we’ve had some – and unfortunately Dom has been injured for a big part of it, but Dom’s history has been very good so we’ll obviously be taking all of that into consideration.”

Still in need of a replacement, it looked for a moment as though Everton could have pulled off a shock move to sign Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap, with talks held, only for the £30m forward to since choose Chelsea over the chasing pack.

The talented striker would have transformed Moyes’ attack and the manager would have been well aware of that when pitching the move to Delap’s representatives. Ultimately, however, Everton were rejected and have reportedly been forced to turn their attention towards a Serie A forward.

Everton now alert in Tammy Abraham race

According to transfer reporter Graeme Bailey, Everton are now alert in the race to sign Tammy Abraham from AS Roma this summer. The former Chelsea striker spent the season on loan at AC Milan, but struggled to make his mark. Now, he could be heading back to English football for the first time since leaving Stamford Bridge in 2021.

Bailey told Everton News: “Everton are one of the clubs aware of Tammy Abraham’s situation. I am told he is one David Moyes likes, and at 27 he is a very good age. An England international – he has a lot left to offer.

“Obviously if Everton want him, then the fact he is already employed by the Friedkin Group – is a bonus, but that only takes you so far – the player will decide his next move.”

Tammy Abraham in the Premier League

Record (via Transfermarkt)

Appearances

112

Goals

29

Assists

14

A player who already had Premier League experience under his belt when heading to Italy, but one who now has experience in another top European league, Abraham could prove to be invaluable for a side like Everton. Dubbed “amazing” by Jose Mourinho during his time at Roma, the ex-Chelsea man is one to watch this summer.

Having already signed Enzo Le Fee and lost Jobe Bellingham to Borussia Dortmund, Sunderland are now reportedly looking to continue a busy start to their summer by signing “one of England’s brightest prospects”.

Sunderland looking to add to Le Fee

Losing Bellingham to Dortmund is undoubtedly a major blow for Regis Le Bris, but the Black Cats have also already completed business of their own by signing Le Fee on a permanent deal. The talented midfielder will officially arrive on July 1 and will be aiming to pick up where he left off following a successful loan spell from AS Roma last season.

Speaking to the club website after arriving on a permanent basis, the Frenchman said: “I said before the play-off final that my heart was in Sunderland – I wanted to stay, and this made it the most important game of my life. Together, we did it.

“From the moment I arrived, I have enjoyed my football, my team-mates, and our supporters. We shared an incredible experience, and now we get to take the next step. There are greater challenges ahead, but we must face them together, and I can’t wait to play for Sunderland in the Premier League.”

Those at the Stadium of Light won’t want to stop there on the incomings front, however. They’ve already reportedly set their sights on further arrivals this summer, which could yet include Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Tommy Doyle.

The young midfielder could be an ideal replacement for Bellingham and may finally realise his potential courtesy of a move to Wearside. It’s there that he could also be joined by another emerging Premier League talent.

Sunderland plotting Samuels-Smith swoop

According to TeamTalk, Sunderland are now plotting a loan move to sign Ishe Samuels-Smith this summer. The Chelsea left-back has impressed at academy level and the Blues are now looking to send him out on loan for the season to gain much-needed minutes at senior level. Given their positive reputation with young players, Sunderland would arguably be the perfect destination for the 19-year-old.

Samuels-Smith is certainly a highly-rated player and that’s been reflected by the praise of David Unsworth. The former Everton U21s manager told TeamTalk: “Ishe is an incredibly talented young man who I know really well. A very talented left-sided defender, either left-back or centre-back, with an incredible future ahead of him.

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“He’s got great parents behind him who support him. He also has a very talented brother, Odin, who is still at Everton. The next step for Ishe would maybe be to go out on loan to get exposure to first team football – that’s if he can’t get into the Chelsea team! He’s only 18 [now 19] and is one of England’s brightest prospects, certainly at his age.”

After losing Bellingham, Sunderland should be desperate to add another talented young player to their ranks and chasing Samuels-Smith’s signature would offer them the perfect opportunity to do exactly that.