Celtic romped to a 5-1 win over Aberdeen in their final away match of the Scottish Premiership campaign on Wednesday night, despite playing a much-changed side.

Brendan Rodgers opted to hand opportunities to several players in the comprehensive victory for the Hoops, including the likes of Viljami Sinisalo, Paulo Bernardo, Luke McCowan, Johnny Kenny, and Maik Nawrocki, among others.

Nawrocki made just his third appearance in the Premiership this season and scored the opening goal in the match with a fine header, and he made five clearances, two blocks, and two interceptions.

Rodgers was also quick to point out how well the Polish colossus performed in possession, as the boss said: “I thought he (Nawrocki) played through the lines really, really well, defended well, and obviously, he was very dangerous in the box.”

The former Legia Warsaw central defender was not the only rarely-seen star who caught the eye for the Northern Irish head coach, though, as Irish striker Johnny Kenny made his first senior start for the club and impressed against the Dons.

Why Johnny Kenny could be a future star for Celtic

The Celtic manager was “pleased” for the 21-year-old centre-forward after the reserve striker scored his first goal for the club with a fine header in the second half.

Rodgers said: “Johnny, we’re also pleased for because he works so hard, he is a natural goalscorer. I think when you see his movement for the goal, it’s so, so good and everyone was delighted for him.”

The young attacker did brilliantly to get across his man to redirect the header into the opposite corner from Luke McCowan’s cross to make it 4-1 on the night.

That was one of the five shots that Kenny managed against Aberdeen, which shows that he provided a constant threat in front of the opposition goal, whilst it was one of two shots on target for the forward.

The Celtic striker, who had only made six substitute appearances in the league prior to that game, had not made a single first-team appearance for the club prior to his return from Shamrock Rovers in January.

Kenny did, however, showcase his potential whilst on loan in his home country, with a return of 26 goals and eight assists in 76 matches for Shamrock Rovers in all competitions.

Appearances

6

xG

3.78

Goals

5

Big chances missed

1

Big chances created

1

Assists

1

As you can see in the table above, the Irishman caught the eye in the Conference League during the first half of this season, scoring five goals in six matches, before his return to Celtic at the turn of the year.

Kenny is a young talent who has shown potential to shine in the future for the Hoops, given his performance against Aberdeen and his goalscoring record in Ireland, but he is also 22 this summer and potentially at a crossroads in his career, where he will have to decide whether it is worth fighting for a spot at Parkhead or going elsewhere to be guaranteed regular game time.

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Meanwhile, Celtic could unearth an even bigger talent than the 21-year-old Irishman by continuing to integrate 17-year-old Sean McArdle into the first-team.

Why Sean McArdle could be an even bigger talent than Johnny Kenny

It took Kenny until the age of 21 to make his senior bow for the Hoops. McArdle, on the other hand, has made his Scottish Premiership debut before turning 18.

The teenage talent has come off the bench in the last two matches, since the club were confirmed as champions of the division, as Rodgers has decided that he is ready to play in the first-team.

McArdle made his debut against Hibernian at Parkhead last week before coming on for the final nine minutes against Aberdeen away from home on Wednesday night.

The 17-year-old Scottish ace was praised by Rodgers after his debut, as the head coach said: “I like him, he’s got decent legs, he’s got a nice football brain, left-sided, he’s got culture when he plays, and now he’s got the best role models you can have in some of the players that we have here, like Callum and these guys, to learn from.”

Minutes

9

Passes completed

11/12

Shots

1

Shots on target

1

Chances created

1

Dribbles completed

1/1

Duels won

1/1

Possession lost

1x

As you can see in the table above, McArdle followed up on that praise by delivering an impressive cameo off the bench against Aberdeen, completing 92% of his chances and showing a few nice touches, creating one chance in the process.

After that display, Rodgers praised the teenager once again: “Yes, I liked him when he came on. I like the young players, and any player that you play for Celtic, you have to have personality. And you could see at 17, he comes into the game, he takes the ball, he passes the ball. He’s got a wee edge to him as well that I like.”

The manager was not the only person impressed by McArdle, though, as teammate and experienced midfielder McCowan described him as a “great” player.

This shows that he has gained respect from the manager and at least one of the senior players in the first-team with his performances in training and in Premiership matches, despite being just 17.

McArdle, who scored five goals in 25 Lowland League games this season, could, therefore, be an even bigger talent than Kenny because he has already made more progress than the Irishman did at his age.

Kenny is five years older than the Scottish midfielder and only made his Premiership debut for Celtic at the start of this year, whilst the teenager has played twice in the division already and could establish himself as a regular in the coming years, potentially before he gets to the age the Irish striker is at now.

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To make his breakthrough at such a young age, whilst earning plaudits from Rodgers and McCowan, speaks to his potential and suggests that he could be a future star for the Hoops for many years to come if he continues his progression.

With how poorly this season has gone for Arsenal, it’s hard to name too many of their players who have at least matched their level from last year, let alone taken a step forward.

For example, it wouldn’t be controversial to say that the likes of Martin Odegaard, William Saliba, and Leandro Trossard have all taken a step back this term.

Yet, a couple of Mikel Arteta’s stars have done themselves proud, such as Bukayo Saka, who has managed to rack up a brilliant haul of 12 goals and 14 assists in 35 games despite missing almost four months of football with a hamstring injury.

Saka’s 24/25

Competition

EPL

UCL

FA Cup

Appearances

23

9

3

Minutes

1633′

764′

119′

Goals

6

6

0

Assists

11

2

1

Goal Involvements per Match

0.73

0.88

0.33

Minutes per Goal Involvement

96.05′

95.5′

119′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

The Hale Ender has been a rare bright spot for the North Londoners this season, so fans should be excited about recent reports linking the club with an international attacker who could be a dream teammate for him.

Arsenal transfer news

The good news is that plenty of the players touted for a move to Arsenal in the last few weeks would certainly make great teammates for Saka, such as Jamie Gittens and Nico Williams.

Transfer Focus

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Expand Collapse

Thanks to his tally of 12 goals and five assists in 47 appearances this term, the former would bring some more dynamism and threat to the left flank, freeing up space on the right and all for around £55m.

It’d be much of the same from the latter, who’s racked up an impressive tally of 11 goals and seven assists in 44 games this season and has a release clause worth around £48m in his current deal with Athletic Bilbao.

However, to really help the Gunners’ number seven reach another level, Andrea Berta and Co need to bring in a dangerous and dynamic centre-forward like Benjamin Sesko.

According to a recent report from respected journalist David Ornstein, the Slovenian international remains a genuine option for Arsenal, who have “done a lot of work” to get a deal for the 22-year-old done.

A potential price is not mentioned in the report, but according to a report from Sky Sports’ Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, the RB Leipzig ace now has a release clause worth €80m, which is about £67m.

It would be a costly transfer to get over the line, but given Sesko’s immense ability and potential, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as he could be a dream for Saka.

Why Sesko would be a dream for Saka

Now, there are likely any number of small reasons why Sesko would be such an excellent signing for Saka, from how he trains to those unquantifiable aspects like his personality and how he meshes with the team.

However, when it comes down to it, the most significant reason the Slovenian would help the Englishman reach another level is his output.

It’s the 22-year-old’s ability to put the ball in the back of the net or create chances for his teammates that will help the Gunners’ mercurial number seven get even better, and from every angle, it’s something he’s better at doing than the North Londoners’ starting number nine: Kai Havertz.

For example, prior to his injury, the German had scored 15 goals and provided five assists in 34 appearances, totalling 2776 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.7 games, or every 138.8 minutes.

In contrast, the Leipzig “monster,” as dubbed by respected analyst Ben Mattinson, has scored 21 goals and provided six assists in 44 appearances, totalling 3255 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.62 games, or every 120.55 minutes.

Sesko vs Havertz

Players

Sesko

Havertz

Appearances

44

34

Minutes

3255′

2776′

Goals

21

15

Assists

6

5

Goal Involvements per Match

0.61

0.58

Minutes per Goal Involvement

120.55′

138.8′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

On top of producing more goal involvements, the Radeče-born dynamo is simply more clinical.

For example, according to Understat, his 13 league goals this season have come from an expected goals figure of 10.84, whereas the Gunners’ number 29 has scored his nine league goals from an expected goals figure of 11.76.

Ultimately, while Havertz would still be a valuable squad player, Sesko is clearly a better striker and someone who’d not only put away more of the chances created for him but also likely create more space for the lies of Saka to exploit.

Therefore, Arsenal should do all they can to sign him as soon as possible.

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Manchester United have a huge summer ahead of them to help Ruben Amorim in his quest to be a success during his stint as manager at Old Trafford.

The 40-year-old took the reins from Erik ten Hag back in November, but has so far been unable to transform the club’s fortunes – especially in the Premier League.

The Red Devils currently occupy a place in the bottom half of the table, on course to register their lowest-ever finish in the Premier League era, with just two games remaining in 2024/25.

It’s safe to say that if the situation is to change at the Theatre of Dreams, incomings and outgoings are massively needed this summer to prevent a repeat of the dismal campaign.

With the summer transfer window now just a couple of weeks away, work has already begun to make key additions, handing Amorim with the ammunition he desperately needs.

The latest on United’s pursuit of new additions this summer

Attackers have been the main focus for United ahead of the summer window over recent weeks, with countless names thrown into the mix over an off-season switch.

Liam Delap, Matheus Cunha and Viktor Gyokeres are just three names touted with a move to Old Trafford, but none are nearing their conclusion despite talks being held to sign some of the trio.

However, the midfield department could also be bolstered in the next few months, with Atalanta star Ederson the latest player on their list, according to TuttoAtalanta.

Their report claims that the Red Devils have once again entered talks with the Serie A side over a move for the Brazilian international after previously trying to land him in previous windows.

It also states that Atalanta are unwilling to part ways with the 25-year-old, but that Amorim sees him as the perfect profile for a player he wants to take his side forward during his reign.

The United target who would make Bruno unplayable

Bruno Fernandes has often been United’s shining light throughout 2024/25, producing countless moments of magic which have catapulted them to a Europa League final.

The 30-year-old, who’s the club’s captain, has 36 combined goals and assists in his 54 appearances across all competitions, by far and away the most of any player in the first-team squad.

11 of which have come in Europe, making him the player with the most combined goal contributions in the history of the Europa League – highlighting his importance in such a competition.

It’s unthinkable to imagine where the club would be without his efforts this campaign, undoubtedly holding the keys to any future success during Amorim’s tenure.

However, he’s often been forced to play in a deeper role than he’s used to at times this campaign, with Ederson’s potential arrival freeing up the opportunity for the former Sporting CP star to feature in his natural number ten position.

The Atalanta ace has produced numerous stats this season that would make him the perfect deep-lying ball-winner the side have been craving, which could perfectly benefit Bruno in the process.

Ederson, who’s been labelled “unbelievable” by former United star Owen Hargreaves, has won 61% of the tackles he’s entered in Serie A this season, showcasing his dominance out of possession.

Games played

35

Goals & assists

5

Pass accuracy

87%

Chances created

1.2

Tackles won

61%

Duels won

5.6

Interceptions made

1.2

He’s also won 5.6 duels per 90 and made 1.2 interceptions per game – handing Amorim the added defensive presence he’s often lacked since his appointment.

The Brazilian has also impressed with the ball, completing 87% of the passes he’s attempted, creating 1.2 chances per 90, handing Bruno added ammunition to improve his own tallies in the process.

It’s unclear how much a deal for the 25-year-old would set the hierarchy back this summer, but it’s a deal that simply must be completed to help restore their former glory.

Should he have the desired impact at both ends of the pitch, any deal would prove to be a bargain, having all the tools to cement his place at the heart of Amorim’s side for many years to come.

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1 ByEthan Lamb May 15, 2025

While it could still end in an incredible crescendo of Champions League glory, it wouldn’t be amiss to describe this season as something of a disappointment for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta’s side were terrible in both the FA Cup and League Cup, and are now at risk of losing their grasp on second place in the Premier League.

Moreover, while the team has underwhelmed as a collective, there have been several players who’ve simply not reached the standards set in the last couple of years, such as Martin Odegaard.

So, with this in mind, it’s not all that surprising to read recent reports linking the club to someone who could be an upgrade on the Gunners captain.

Arsenal transfer news

Before we get to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other midfield stars linked with Arsenal in recent months, such as Frenkie de Jong and Kevin De Bruyne.

Transfer Focus

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The former has been enjoying a stellar campaign with Barcelona and remains on track for a historic treble-winning season with the Catalan club, so while he’d be an exceptional addition to the club, we imagine he’d cost a king’s ransom, even with reports coming out about his contract talks stalling.

In contrast, we now know Kevin de Bruyne will be leaving Manchester City in the summer, so if Arteta can work his magic, he might just be able to convince the mercurial Belgian to join his former title rivals, and with 14 goal involvements in 36 games this season, he’d still be a useful player to have in the squad.

However, knowing the North Londoners might want to make sure they keep the team young and hungry, which could explain the recent links to Brahim Diaz.

According to a recent report from Spain, Arsenal have identified the Moroccan international as a ‘top priority’ ahead of the summer and that Arteta really wants the club to sign the player he worked with at Manchester City.

The story claims that Real Madrid are willing to let the player leave for a convincing offer, while stories from earlier this year suggest that they’d be after a fee in the region of €60m, which is about £51m.

It would be a costly deal to get over the line, but one worth pursuing, as he could be a perfect upgrade on Odegaard.

How Diaz compares to Odegaard

So, if Arsenal get their man this summer, and he comes in to play more of a midfield role, he’d be in direct competition with Odegaard for that creative number ten role.

With that said, who comes out on top when we compare them?

From a pure output perspective, it is the “incredible” Real ace, as dubbed by Pep Guardiola, who emerges victorious, but only when we look at the minutes-to-goal involvement ratios.

For example, in 49 appearances, totalling 2058 minutes, the Moroccan international has scored six goals and provided seven assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 3.76 games, or far more consequently, every 158.30 minutes.

In contrast, the Norwegian maestro has scored five goals and provided 11 assists in 41 appearances, totalling 3162 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.56 games, but more importantly, every 197.62 minutes.

What about when we take a look under the hood and at their underlying numbers, then? Is it another minor victory for the Champions League winner?

Well, it’s actually a relatively comfortable one for the 25-year-old, as he comes out ahead in most relevant metrics, including but not limited to expected and actual non-penalty goals plus assists, shots and shots on target, passing accuracy, goal-creating actions, successful take-ons and more, all per 90.

Diaz vs Odegaard
Statistic	Diaz	Odegaard
Non-Penalty Expected G+As	0.57	0.37
Non-Penalty G+As	0.42	0.34
Progressive Passes	4.62	10.1
Progressive Passes Received	6.99	6.08
Progressive Carries	2.66	3.46
Shots	1.89	1.82
Shots on Target	1.05	0.55
Passing Accuracy	86.7%	82.9%
Key Passes	1.40	2.41
Shot-Creating Actions	3.57	4.86
Goal-Creating Actions	0.84	0.59
Tackles Won	1.26	0.46
Interceptions	0.28	0.17
Blocks	1.12	0.21
Successful Take-Ons	1.54	0.97
All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 League Season

Ultimately, while Odegaard remains a talented player, Diaz has outperformed him in just about every metric this season, and if Arsenal can sign him in the summer, they should.

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By
Jack Salveson Holmes

May 6, 2025

When looking over their 2024/25 campaign in detail, Newcastle United will very much jot it down as an overwhelming success.

After all, the Magpies would end up lifting some much-needed silverware in the EFL Cup final to end a major trophy drought, whilst Eddie Howe’s Toon would also just about qualify for the Champions League once again when finishing inside the top five spots in the Premier League.

But, that doesn’t stop there being a slight bad taste in the mouth concerning Newcastle’s 1-0 defeat to Everton on the final day, with a number of players showing to Howe they might well struggle competing in Europe’s elite competition again.

Newcastle's key underperformers vs Everton

Thankfully, Aston Villa also lost on their travels to Manchester United, meaning the Magpies luckily secured that final coveted fifth position by one slender point.

Still, Howe won’t just completely disregard the defeat, with certain individuals having a poor day at the office to end their respective seasons on a whimper.

Anthony Gordon would only see out one half of football for the Magpies, and for good reason, with nothing working out for the ex-Toffees man whatsoever down the left flank when failing to register a single on-target shot at Jordan Pickford’s goal.

Moreover, Alexander Isak looked tired and lethargic as Newcastle’s main man up top, seen in his lack of drive and energy when completing zero successful dribbles, alongside further fluffing his lines when three efforts went astray.

Jacob Murphy also looked wasteful on the ball when giving up possession a hefty 13 times, but there was one poor display that will have irked Howe the most and made him now contemplate whether this figure will be able to cut in when Champions League nights return to Tyneside.

The 5/10 star not good enough for the Champions League

Newcastle fans will obviously be over the moon that their team clinched Champions League football, irrespective of this final-day slip-up.

But, the Magpies masses won’t feel too confident moving forward that Harvey Barnes can do the business on some grand stages in Europe next season, based on his lacklustre performance against David Moyes’ well-drilled visitors.

The former Leicester City man can boast an impressive tally of nine strikes and four assists across 40 overall games, but he did struggle to get going against the Toffees, with May in general seeing a worrying dip in form.

Much like Gordon down the opposing left wing, Barnes would also fail to register a single on-target shot to try and catch the formidable Pickford cold, alongside also displaying signs of Murphy’s rashness on the ball when completing zero accurate crosses or long balls.

Minutes played

90

90

76

88

Final result

1-1 D

2-0 W

1-0 L

1-0 L

Goals scored

0

0

0

0

Assists

0

0

0

0

Touches

38

51

23

34

Accurate passes

17/21 (81%)

21/29 (72%)

13/14 (93%)

15/21 (71%)

Key passes

2

2

0

1

Accurate crosses

0/4

1/3

0/1

0/2

Accurate long balls

0

1/2

1/1

0/2

Shots

3

4

3

1

Successful dribbles

1/2

2/5

0

0/1

Total duels won

3/10

3/11

1/4

1/3

Looking at the table above, it’s even more clear that it’s been a rocky month for Barnes in general, as seen in the 27-year-old frustratingly ending the campaign with no goals or assists next to his name in May.

Consequently, the 5 foot 9 attacker nearly cost his team dear in their pursuit of Champions League action, with only 33 touches coming his way against Everton – actually a worse record overall than Toon goalkeeper Pope, who managed 38.

As a result, he would receive a dour 5/10 post-match rating from Chronicle Live journalist Lee Ryder, who stated simply that Barnes ‘didn’t deliver his best form’ against the Toffees.

Newcastle just can’t have these out-of-sorts performances popping up if they stand a chance at progressing far in the tricky competition, meaning Barnes could be warming the substitutes bench next season when fiercely contested mid-week ties are back on the Toon calendar.

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Wolverhampton Wanderers are enjoying a strong finish to the season and could make an early summer move that would signal their intent under Vitor Pereira, according to reports.

Wolves in new dawn under Vitor Pereira

Not so long ago, Wolves looked destined to appear in a relegation dogfight and found their Premier League status under threat. Vitor Pereira wasn’t a universally popular appointment when he arrived at Molineux, but ten top-flight victories and two draws out of 19 matches have more than secured his side’s survival for another season.

Last weekend, a narrow loss to Manchester City brought a run of six straight Premier League wins to an end, though they really should’ve taken something from a tight encounter at the Etihad Stadium.

Looking forward, the landscape is a positive one for Wolves as they look to make improvements on the market. Sunderland’s Dennis Cirkin could be one of their first additions at Molineux should the Black Cats fail to win promotion.

Nicolas Pepe has emerged as a surprise target for Wolves following his career revival at Ligue 1 outfit Nice, though he also has interest in his services from Saudi Arabia.

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Despite rescuing their season after a poor start, the Old Gold will be conscious that they cannot afford to be slow off the mark next term once divisional rivals have a chance to bolster their squads in the market. Strength in depth is needed to solidify their Premier League credentials, but Pereira has already shown that he can maximise the output of key assets, which is likely to breed confidence.

Now, Wolves have began to accelerate in a move to sign a talented midfielder that is also wanted by one of Europe’s giants, per reports.

Wolves want to sign Genoa midfielder Morten Frendrup

According to Football Transfers, Wolves have positioned themselves to sign Genoa midfielder Morten Frendrup, who is also attracting interest from the likes of Fiorentina and AC Milan.

West Ham United are also in pursuit of the Denmark international after a season that has seen him win more tackles and make more ball recoveries than anyone else in Serie A this season, setting a trend.

Morten Frendrup’s impressive season for Genoa – Serie A

Tackles won

60

Duels won

170

Recoveries

175

Pass accuracy

85.6%

Successful dribbles

10

Possession won in final third

20

Labelled “very impressive” by scout/writer Jacek Kulig, Frendrup has scored twice in 35 appearances across all competitions this campaign.

The outlet state that he could be available for a bargain price of £16.9 million, representing value for money in a modern-day market that rarely throws up inexpensive opportunities to pounce.

With rival suitors beginning to circle for his signature, Wolves need to put forward a convincing proposal in the hope that he will opt to move to Molineux once the window finally opens.

Milos Kerkez could well be on his way to Liverpool this summer, but Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes are said to be eyeing another left-back, too.

Kerkez in talks with Liverpool

A new left-back has been seen as a priority position to strengthen in this summer, with Andy Robertson no longer the force of old, and Kostas Tsimikas arguably not at the level required to be a regular starter for the Reds.

Bournemouth ace Kerkez has emerged as the leading option for Liverpool at left-back, with the Hungarian reportedly set to agree personal terms and holding talks with the Premier League champions over a summer move to Anfield.

The 21-year-old has the potential to be a superb signing for the Reds, having shone for the Cherries all season long, even making it into Gary Neville’s Team of the Season on Monday Night Football.

Meanwhile, Robertson has discussed his future at Liverpool with Jamie Carragher, saying: “I have only got a year left. So I hope all you guys (the fans) can help me with making the same noise around a new contract as you did with Mo and Virgil’s! Maybe you (Carragher) can stop linking the club with other left-backs as well! No look, I’ve had eight wonderful years so far and I have a year left. I am not as young as I once was but I love this club and I have had some great memories here, so let’s see what the future holds.”

Liverpool working on another left-back signing with Kerkez

Now, according to ILovePalermoCalcio [via Sport Witness], Liverpool are working to sign young Palermo left-back Gioacchino Barranca this summer, as Edwards continues to not mess around this summer, as he continues to try and get a deal for Kerkez over the line.

The Reds are believed to be “moving in the background” with regards to the 17-year-old, looking to pounce during the summer transfer window ahead of Atalanta and Torino.

Even the most ardent Liverpool supporter would struggle to claim to be an expert on Barranca, given his age and the fact that he is yet to represent Palermo at senior level.

The left-back has made a combined 50 appearances for their Under-17s and Under-19s, though, and the fact that a club of the Reds’ stature are tracking him speaks volumes about his long-term potential.

Barranca could come in as a future star at Liverpool, initially going into the academy setup or even being sent out on loan to aid his development, being seen as the eventual understudy to Kerkez once Robertson and Tsimikas move on.

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It is always vital for the Reds to plan for the future, ensuring the club continues to be in a good place for many years to come, and the Palermo teenager would be an astute addition in that respect.

Although their fate is yet to be decided in pursuit of Champions League football, Aston Villa have already reportedly reached the closing stages of negotiations to sign one particular star.

Aston Villa's late push to secure Champions League football

Aston Villa have hit form at the perfect time and could yet be in a position to take full advantage in the final two games of the Premier League season. Victory over Bournemouth last time out made it four wins in their last five league games in a run that includes a 4-1 thrashing of top five rivals Newcastle United. Now, with two games remaining, Unai Emery’s side only sit behind Chelsea on goal difference.

Premier League’s UCL race	Points	Goal Difference
Liverpool (C)	83	46
Arsenal	68	33
Newcastle United	66	23
Manchester City	65	24
Chelsea	63	19
Aston Villa	63	7
Nottingham Forest	62	12

With Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United to play – two sides who have nothing to play for following disastrous Premier League campaigns – there’s every chance that Villa could yet sneak into the Champions League places in dramatic fashion.

Emery reiterated that Aston Villa must keep going after victory at Bournemouth, telling reporters: “It’s very good. I’m very happy and proud but we can’t stop now. We have to keep going.

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2

By
Ross Kilvington

May 12, 2025

“We got Europe last week against Fulham at home and today against Bournemouth, teams that are competing very well and performing very well. They were fighting with us as their opponent.

“They were an opponent for us to get Europe. Now we’re in the run in with the teams fighting for Champions League after the way we did last week and the win we did today. We’re deserving to play the next match against Tottenham having the possibilities to be there, taking even more in Europa League or Champions League.”

Aston Villa closing in on Asensio deal

Away from the action on the pitch, meanwhile, those in the Midlands have already reportedly set their sights on their first reinforcement of the summer. According to Estadio Deportivo, as relayed by Sport Witness, Monchi is now in the closing stages of a deal to sign Marco Asensio on a permanent basis for Aston Villa this summer.

The Villans are reportedly set to offer Paris Saint-Germain around €15m (£13m) to sell the Spaniard in a deal that Emery is reportedly personally pushing Monchi to complete. Given that PSG are keen to sell Asensio too, it seems likely that Villa will be in the perfect position to secure their move.

Asensio certainly has plenty of fans around the Midlands following a successful loan spell. And Emery is among those fans, having told reporters when questioned on the winger’s quality: “For him as well, it is a very huge challenge, to show here his capacity to help us. But every match, of course, he is doing a fantastic job, and his adaptation was going very quick.”

Liverpool may now have to do battle with Real Madrid and Barcelona for the signature of a £80m midfielder this summer, according to former scout Mick Brown.

Florian Wirtz race heating up

The transfer window is yet to officially open, but the Reds are clearly looking to get their business done early, with a deal for Jeremie Frimpong looking like it is edging closer to completion, and the Dutchman’s Bayer Leverkusen teammate could follow him to Anfield.

Indeed, Florian Wirtz has emerged as a major target for Arne Slot’s side, who have now taken the action of submitting a concrete contract offer for the German, but a deal will not be cheap, as the total package could amount to over £250m all-in.

Wirtz is being targeted to bolster the attacking midfield area, having consistently provided goals and assists for Leverkusen ever since breaking into the first team at a very young age.

Season

Bundesliga appearances

Goals

Assists

2020-21

29

5

6

2021-22

24

7

10

2022-23

17

1

6

2023-24

32

11

12

2024-25

31

10

13

As such, the 22-year-old could be an exciting addition to the attack, but there have also been suggestions that Slot is also looking to strengthen in a slightly deeper area, with Brown telling Football Insider that Liverpool are now racing Real Madrid for Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton.

Barcelona have also been “having a look” at the FA Cup-winning midfielder, who has a huge asking price of £80m, which could pose a problem for the Reds, and Brown believes the Merseysiders may also have some concerns over certain aspects of his game.

The former scout said: “Adam Wharton’s quality is unquestionable, there are no concerns there. In the Premier League, that’s very, very important.

“On the other side of things is his ability to cover the ground, and he seems to me to be a yard short in terms of covering the ground. So that’s going to be a concern for the likes of Liverpool or Man City – albeit not a major one.”

Wharton is a "generational talent"

Brown suggests the Palace star may not yet be the full package, but he is still very young, and the 21-year-old has been tipped to be capable of going on to achieve big things by members of the media, who have lauded the midfielder as a “generational talent”.

Despite not playing in as advanced a role as Wirtz, the England international also has attacking tendencies, given his ability to advance the ball further up the pitch, averaging the second-highest percentage of forward passes in the Premier League this term.

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Brown’s phrasing suggests Real Madrid’s interest is not advanced, but Trent Alexander-Arnold’s prospective move underlines the allure of moving to the Bernabeu, so Liverpool could find it tough to win the race for Wharton if the Spanish side come calling.

Not only that, but Madrid are also in the race for Wirtz, with the European giants keeping an eye on the German, which will be another cause for concern.

Tottenham Hotspur’s summer recruitment drive hasn’t quite got off the ground yet, mainly due to uncertainty surrounding Ange Postecoglou and his long-term future, but that hasn’t stopped some transfer plans being made.

Tottenham transfer plans after vital Europa League triumph

While Postecoglou is set to learn his fate as soon as this week, according to ESPN and other reliable media sources, technical director Johan Lange, chairman Daniel Levy and the incoming Fabio Paratici will be debating ways to improve the Spurs squad regardless of who is in charge next season.

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Their triumph in the Europa League final has opened many doors for Spurs, with the Lilywhites set to compete in next season’s Champions League as one major positive of their victory against Man United in Bilbao.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

The greater transfer market pull and financial windfall that comes with competing in Europe’s most prestigious competition will undoubtedly assist Levy when it comes to bolstering the team this summer, with Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge reporting that Spurs want to strengthen the entire squad in all areas bar goalkeeper.

“Spurs don’t have to sell to buy, with Champions League qualification huge for the club,” said Bridge.

“All areas, apart from the goalkeeping department, will be looked at. Midfield and forward would be the priority if Cristian Romero stays.”

Dejan Kulusevski’s lengthy injury lay-off, combined with uncertainty surrounding the long-term futures of Richarlison and even Mathys Tel, means a new attacking player or two could be highly likely at Spurs.

Tottenham are considering the sale of Richarlison after another season marred by injury for the Brazilian, while there are some reports that Tel could return to Bayern Munich if Spurs make significant progress on a deal for Leroy Sane.

Sane has been heavily linked with a move to N17 in the last week, with the Bayern winger out of contract at the end of this month. He recently employed super-agent Pini Zahavi to help negotiate a new deal with Vincent Kompany’s side, but no agreement has been reached, so the representative could assist in finding him a new club instead.

Leroy Sane "wants a move" to Tottenham from Bayern Munich

Spurs face competition from north London rivals Arsenal, who are also believed to be in talks with Zahavi, but Levy has been handed a fresh boost in their rumoured pursuit of the 29-year-old.

Once valued at £137 million by Man City, the winger could soon be available at zero transfer cost, with Tottenham News sharing an update on the Lilywhites’ chances of beating Arsenal to his signature.

The outlet reports that Sane “wants a move” to Tottenham after they qualified for the Champions League, and they’re current favourites to win the race in light of the forward’s fresh stance on joining.

This is also regardless of whether Postecoglou is at the club next term, so it appears Sane is pretty keen on a switch to Spurs.

That being said, the former Schalke star was thought to be after a £192,000-per-week base salary plus £2.5 million in bonuses to remain at Bayern, so Spurs may have to offer him a similar pay packet to join them instead, which would make him their highest earner above Son Heung-min.