Aston Villa are battling Manchester United in the race to sign a teenager who has a release clause worth just £4 million, according to a new report.

Aston Villa's plans for the summer begin to take shape

Villa are hoping to seal a spot in next season’s Champions League, as the race to finish in the top five in the Premier League gathers pace in the final weeks of the campaign. But whether the Midlands side secure Champions League football or not, it is likely to be a busy summer for Unai Emery and co. as most summers have been since his arrival.

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There is a lot to decide in regards to the futures of Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio, both of whom are on loan from Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain, respectively. Meanwhile, rumours have started to begin regarding the future of Morgan Rogers, as he is linked with several high-profile teams in the Premier League.

But Villa’s focus will be on strengthening the team this summer, and one player they appear keen on signing is Kevin de Bruyne. It was reported last week that Villa held internal talks over signing the Belgian this summer.

It’s now been reported by Football Insider that club chiefs are ready to go and sign De Bruyne should Emery want a deal to be done. The midfielder is coming to the end of his contract at Manchester City and therefore can be picked up on a free transfer.

Aston Villa face Man Utd in race to sign £4m teenager

As well as looking at signing an experienced head like De Bruyne, the Villans also have their eye on adding more exciting youth to their team. According to Spanish reports, relayed by Sport Witness, Aston Villa are among the teams interested in signing Christian Kofane from Albacete Balompie.

The report states that as well as Villa holding a keen interest in the 18-year-old forward, Manchester United and Newcastle United are also in the race to sign the teenager. It claims that all three clubs have already made contact with Albacete Balompié over signing Kofane, but so has ‘half of Europe’, with teams such as Atlético Madrid, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Villarreal, Real Betis, Lille and AS Monaco all interested.

Kofane, who is described as a ‘sensation’ in this update, is under contract until 2031, but this report does state that he has a release clause which is worth €5 million, which is roughly £4.2 million, and this is described as easily affordable for the Premier League teams.

Christian Kofane’s 24/25 La Liga 2 stats

Apps

15

Goals

6

Assists

1

Kofane has gathered more attention in recent weeks, as he’s scored five goals in his last seven games. His arrival at Villa Park would likely see him join up with the club’s academy team, but the Villans must believe that Kofane has the ability to become a star for their first team, and therefore, they may be willing to trigger his release clause, given it is a small amount.

A summer of huge change awaits for Manchester City.

On Saturday, the Sky Blues were beaten 1-0 by Crystal Palace in the FA Cup Final at Wembley, meaning they will end the campaign without silverware, well unless, like Pep Guardiola, you include August’s Community Shield.

Now, ahead of Tuesday night’s clash with Bournemouth at the Etihad, the Citizens find themselves outside the Champions League places, something that would have been simply unthinkable before the season began, requiring four points from their final two fixtures to secure a top-five finish; anything less could be catastrophic.

Even with Premier League games still to play, Man City’s summer transfer activity is well underway, so could a new “world-class” midfielder be arriving very soon?

Manchester City targeting a new midfielder

As has been widely reported, including by Sami Mokbel of BBC Sport, Manchester City have withdrawn their interest in Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz due to ‘the soaring costs of any deal’.

Paul Hirst and Paul Joyce of the Times claim that die Schwarzroten value their star asset at £126m, hence why Man City have turned their attention to other targets; Bayern Munich and Liverpool are still in the race to secure Wirtz’s signature.

So, who’s the alternative? Well, according to a report from TEAMtalk, Manchester City ‘have accelerated their efforts’ to sign AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders and are now preparing a bid worth £59m.

Sky Sports Switzerland has previously reported that personal terms have been agreed, with the Citizens ‘fully committed’ to finalising this deal, although there is currently a gap in valuation, with reports claiming he is valued at €90m (around £76m), significantly higher than Man City’s initial offer of €60m (£50m).

So, why are Man City so determined to complete this deal?

How Reijnders compares to Wirtz

Well, Graham Ruthven of Total Soccer Show asserts that Reijnders has been AC Milan’s ‘best player this season’, taking his game to another level since the arrival of Sérgio Conceição in January, while analyst Ben Mattinson believes the Dutchman is capable of playing at a “world-class level”.

So, how would Reijnders fit in at the Etihad, and would his arrival soften the blow of missing out on another highly coveted midfielder in Wirtz?

Let’s asses how these two players compare.

Appearances

53

45

Minutes

4,501

3,392

Goals

15

16

Assists

5

15

Shots

125

121

Shots on target %

40.8%

45.5%

Non-penalty goals – xG

+3.2

+4.1

Big chances created

10

23

Progressive carries

132

159

Progressive passes

272

229

Pass completion %

87.9%

79.9%

Shot-creating actions

136

191

Goal-creating actions

11

30

Take-on success %

47.9%

48.3%

Interceptions

49

22

Ball recoveries

148

145

Average Sofascore Rating

7.29

7.56

As the table outlines, many of Wirtz’s statistics are outstanding, which is not too surprising considering he is, indisputably, one of the best creative midfielders in the world, ranked second in the Bundesliga this season for big chances created.

Nevertheless, Reijnders’ statistics are pretty comparable across the board, mustering more shots, registering more progressive passes and completing a higher percentage of his passes, while his out-of-possession statistics, namely interceptions and ball recoveries, are also higher.

So, the Dutchman is a more well-rounded midfielder, which could be exactly what City need given that, as outlined by Sam Lee of the Athletic, the Citizens’ midfield has been far too easy to play against this season, ever since Rodri suffered his long-term ACL injury in September.

Thus, as much as Wirtz would have been a game-changing arrival, while Reijnders may not have quite as much name recognition, all the indications are that he’ll be an excellent addition, even if quite an expensive one.

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Arsenal have been contacted by the representatives of a wantaway Chelsea player, and it is believed he could well be tempted by a north London switch.

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The 53-year-old orchestrated a plethora of high-profile deals during his productive 12-year stint at Atlético Madrid, and he’s now transferring that expertise to the Emirates Stadium in a major boost for Mikel Arteta.

Reports in both England and France claim Berta recently reached out to Athletic Bilbao starlet Nico Williams’ agents for talks, so it is clear the Italian is aiming to make a head start on the first summer window, which opens from June 1st to June 10th.

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Southampton (away)

May 25th

Berta is rumoured to be prioritising the potential signing of a new winger and striker, as well as a new left-back, midfielder and second-choice keeper (GiveMeSport), so we can fully expect some fresh faces to arrive in attack before the beginning of 2025/2026.

Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard face uncertain long-term futures, according to some reports, while injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz have left Arteta desperately short in the centre-forward area.

One player who could actually fill all of their roles, given his versatility, is £195,000-per-week Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku.

The Frenchman has bagged 14 goals in all competitions this term, despite being used more as an impact substitute under Enzo Maresca, and he can play as a second striker, centre-forward, left-winger and even an attacking midfielder when required.

Christopher Nkunku could be tempted to join Arsenal after talks

He appears to be on the way out of Stamford Bridge this summer as well, with Nkunku’s representatives holding some talks with Arsenal and other Premier League sides.

That is according to journalist Graeme Bailey, who also told The Boot Room that his desire to stay in London could mean that Nkunku may well be tempted by the prospect of a switch to Arsenal.

“His people are touching base with clubs in England,” said Bailey.

“Arsenal, Liverpool, Man United, Newcastle, Aston Villa and Tottenham have all been spoken to in the past few months. Chelsea want to recoup as much of their plus £50m outlay, but that looks difficult at this juncture.

“I am told the player is very happy in London, and so would a move to a Arsenal or Tottenham appeal? I believe it would but as it stands those options are not advanced – but Arsenal and Spurs both have an historic interest in the player. Both want a wide forward, so you could see the fit.

“There is interest back in Germany – Bayern Munich like him, a new deal for Leroy Sane doesn’t rule out them making a move but it is not pressing. Former club RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen also admire him. Atletico Madrid have also shown some interest, as have the Saudi Pro League – who are willing to offer him a pay rise to move.”

The former RB Leipzig sensation was unrivalled during his time in the Bundesliga, and has displayed real quality when given the chance at Chelsea. Nkunku is also a player who could reinforce multiple attacking positions for Arteta, so this could well appeal to the Spaniard, who is known to greatly value versatility.

Everton are now stepping up their pursuit of a midfield “magician”, with manager David Moyes believed to be a big fan, according to a report.

Everton's summer transfer plans taking shape

The 2025-26 campaign will be the start of a new era for the Toffees, with Moyes’ side set to move to Bramley-Moore Dock, and the Friedkin Group are looking to make some statement signings to mark the move to the new stadium.

Manchester City’s John Stones is among the targets at centre-back, with the Blues open to bringing the Englishman back to Merseyside, while Ipswich Town star Liam Delap is an option, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin yet to commit to a new deal.

Not only that, but Moyes is keen to strengthen in the middle of the park, having requested the permanent signing of Carlos Alcaraz, who has been on loan from Flamengo since January, while the manager is also a big fan of a Ligue 1 midfielder.

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That is according to a report from GiveMeSport, which states Moyes is an admirer of Lille’s Angel Gomes, who is set to leave the French club on a free transfer this summer, and Everton are now making moves to secure his signature.

The Toffees are making a renewed attempt to win the race for Gomes, but they may have a huge battle on their hands, with the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and West Ham United also expressing an interest in the midfielder.

The need to bring in a new central midfielder may also be exacerbated by the fact that Abdoulaye Doucoure, Idrissa Gueye and Orel Mangala are all currently set to exit Goodison Park upon the expiration of their contracts this summer.

"Magician" Gomes could be fantastic signing

The England international has found game time hard to come by in the second half of the season, having suffered some injury setbacks, but his previous exploits in Ligue 1 indicate that he could be a fantastic signing for Everton this summer.

After being called up to the Three Lions squad earlier this season, the 24-year-old received high praise from French football writer Julien Laurens, who said: “He’s one of the best players in Ligue 1, there’s no doubt.”

The maestro went on to catch the eye during his full debut against Finland, given his passing accuracy and eagerness to get the ball forward.

Nottingham Forest’s Jonathan Panzo has also lauded the Englishman in the past, saying: “He’s like a magician. He’s a small player, but his IQ is so smart and he just knows how to get around the pitch.”

It is little wonder that Everton are so keen on Gomes, but it could be difficult to secure the Lille star’s signature, given the level of interest.

Manchester City have a wonderful chance to claim their third FA Cup victory under the leadership of Pep Guardiola at Wembley this afternoon.

Success came in 2019 and 2023 before they lost the final to Manchester United last year. The Spaniard will be keen to end the campaign on a high.

He will, however, be expecting a much better performance than the one that was delivered against Southampton in the Premier League last week.

The 0-0 draw against the club bottom of the table, having conceded 82 goals, was disappointing to say the least, particularly with Erling Haaland back in the starting line-up.

James McAtee was particularly poor during the game.

James McAtee’s game in numbers vs Southampton

The Englishman was unleashed on the right wing against the Saints, but if it was an audition to keep his place in the team next season, he failed.

The attacking midfielder lasted only 45 minutes during the game as he was subbed off at the interval. Throughout the first half, he made just one key pass, registered zero total shots, and won only one total duel.

It was clear the entire team were not quite at the races, but this was a chance for McAtee to prove to Guardiola he was worthy of a place in his plans next term.

This poor performance likely means he will drop to the bench for the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace later today.

The question is, who comes in for the youngster?

Why Man City must unleash Savinho against Crystal Palace

Savinho entered the fray last weekend with just 14 minutes left, but he registered more shots and dribbles than McAtee did during the first half.

Since joining City from Troyes last summer, the winger has scored twice and grabbed 12 assists, proving to be a solid signing by the manager, as he has provided plenty of creativity on the flank.

Comparing Savinho and McAtee in the PL this season

Metric

McAtee

Savinho

Goals

3

1

Assists

0

8

Shots per game

0.8

2

Big chances created

2

11

Successful dribbles per game

0.1

1.9

Key passes per game

0.2

1.6

Stats via Sofascore

Aged only 21, the Brazilian will only get better. That’s for certain. The £46m-rated, per Transfermarkt, youngster has established himself as one of Guardiola’s key players this season.

His displays are even more impressive when compared to those in a similar position across Europe’s top five leagues and European competitions over the past 365 days.

Indeed, Savinho ranks in the top 6% for progressive carries, progressive passes received, touches in the opposition penalty area, and successful take-ons when compared to other wingers per 90.

Furthermore, he also ranks in the top 11% for shot-creating actions and assists per 90, which indicates that he should start the cup final against Palace.

At the start of the season, Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson claimed that the 21-year-old could turn into a “superstar” after several encouraging displays.

Nine months later, Savinho’s City career has gone better than expected. If he can play a key role in the final this afternoon, he could use this to build on ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

New signings will be expected; That’s a certainty. But in Savinho, City have a potential world-class sensation in the making and that is why he must be unleashed ahead of McAtee in the cup final to improve the team’s chances of ending the campaign with a bit of glory.

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Rangers are reportedly likely to sell an “excellent” midfielder permanently at the end of the season, as a billionaire-owned club eye a summer move for him.

Rangers still searching for solution in the dugout

The Gers are still looking to nail their next manager ahead of next season, with Barry Ferguson in interim charge until the end of the current campaign. Former Borussia Dortmund boss Marco Rose is a name who has been mentioned as a possible option, with the 48-year-old most recently in charge of RB Leipzig until earlier this year. He is a two-time Austrian league champion, as well as winning one German Cup and German Super Cup apiece.

Steven Gerrard has been seen as a front-runner for the Rangers job this summer, assuming Ferguson isn’t retained, having guided the Gers to the Scottish Premiership title back in 2020/21. He knows the club well, which could be a bonus, and he may feel he has unfinished business there.

In terms of potential signings this summer, young Hearts striker James Wilson has been linked with a summer switch to Ibrox, with the 18-year-old a player with a bright future in the game. Now, a Rangers exit update has emerged, with one player’s time at the club possibly nearing its conclusion.

"Excellent" Rangers player likely to leave for good this summer

According to a new update from The Daily Record, Rangers midfielder Kieran Dowell is likely to leave the club once and for all this summer, with Birmingham City keen on signing him on a permanent basis. The 27-year-old is currently on loan at the League One side, who are owned by billionaire Tom Wagner, helping them cruise to the title this season, and it now looks like his stay there could be a long-term one.

This does feel like the right time for Rangers to sell the £16,000-a-week Dowell, considering he was loaned out to Birmingham because he wasn’t considered a key part of the club’s plans. The Englishman is out of contract at Ibrox at the end of next season, meaning this summer is the last chance to get a good fee for him, rather than losing him on a free transfer in 2026.

Dowell has done well at Birmingham, scoring five goals and registering four assists in League One this season, and Blues manager Chris Davies has heaped praise on him.

“You can see that from the outside but what you don’t see is what the character is like. Does he work hard? Does he take information on? Whether he is a team player. You only get to see that when you work with someone and he is all that – he works for the team, runs, covers a lot of distance, very diligent. I have given him four, five defensive jobs – everyone he has been switched on to. For me, that is excellent because these are the type of players I want in the team.”

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A move to Birmingham feels like the perfect outcome for the League One side, Rangers and Dowell himself, and it will hopefully be sorted by the time next season gets underway.

In a move that would instantly boost their attacking options, Aston Villa now reportedly want to sign a Premier League rival who put on an impressive performance in front of Unai Emery earlier this season.

Aston Villa's summer plans taking shape amid PSR concerns

It’s a big summer for the Villans. Even if they don’t have Champions League football to offer, those in the Midlands must maintain the level of Unai Emery’s side and they must do so whilst complying with PSR rules. That’s what may hold them back, however. According to recent reports, Aston Villa will likely have to sell before buying this summer if they want to avoid breaking any profit and sustainability rules.

To that end, the rumours have already been coming thick and fast over just who Aston Villa could sell this summer to avoid any potential sanctions. Among those mentioned is Morgan Rogers. The talented midfielder has enjoyed an excellent season in the Midlands, attracting plenty of interest as a result, and his sale would certainly ease Villa’s concerns.

Given just how impressive he’s been this season, though, it seems unlikely that Villa will be desperate to part ways with Rogers to a Champions League rival such as Chelsea this summer.

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However, such a sale would at least allow sporting director Monchi to welcome a number of fresh faces and potentially get permanent deals over the line for Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford.

Those in the Midlands club are seemingly in for a busy summer on all fronts, with new targets beginning to emerge and star players finding themselves on the radar of several rival clubs.

Aston Villa eyeing "unbelievable" Joao Pedro

According to Caught Offside, Aston Villa now want to sign Joao Pedro from Brighton & Hove Albion, who are set to demand as much as €60m (£51m) to sell the Brazilian this summer. The forward hasn’t quite been as consistent as last season, but that hasn’t stopped him from leaving his mark in the Premier League, with 10 goals and six assists to his name.

Emery should already be more than familiar with the 23-year-old’s quality too, after getting a first-hand glimpse when Pedro created both of Brighton’s goals in a dramatic 2-2 draw at Villa Park earlier this season.

Brighton’s asking price should come as little surprise, either. Pedro is clearly rated highly at The Amex and Fabian Hurzeler’s praise has reflected that this season. The Seagulls boss told reporters back in November when asked about his forward after a 2-1 win over Bournemouth: “In possession he is unbelievable. He makes the difference for us today.

“It’s also very important to see how he works against the ball. He invests a lot out of possession. He does a lot of work in the shadow and the work that is unseen. That’s why it is very good to have him as a leader on the pitch.”

Amid a sea of red celebration at Anfield on Sunday, the cameras panned for a moment on Liverpool head coach Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes, locked in conversation.

Have the conversations relating to improvements already begun? What, indeed, do these discussions pertain to? Are Liverpool now focusing on the additions which will surely rain down on this incredible Reds squad, which has been so dominant in the Premier League yet clearly needs reinforcing across a range of positions?

With Darwin Nunez expected to leave at the end of the season, much has been made of Liverpool’s conundrum at number nine. Alexander Isak would be a golden ticket toward the next level in Slot’s project, but Newcastle United will demand north of £150m for their talisman. It might not happen, sadly.

A robust midfield could do with another part, and Andy Robertson’s waning influence and athleticism has seen Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez placed at the top of the shopping list, report The Times.

Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk have renewed their contracts but Hughes will no doubt be thinking about signing understudies who could bloom into superstars down the line.

Then there’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose resolution to a protracted saga feels right around the corner.

The latest on Alexander-Arnold's future

No one can dispute Alexander-Arnold’s passion as he capered around after Liverpool defeated Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, sealing the Premier League title for the second time in his career.

However, it’s also becoming increasingly difficult to argue that the 26-year-old will be playing his football in a Liverpool shirt next season, now on the eve of free agency.

Salah and Van Dijk have committed the final few years of their primes to Anfield, but Alexander-Arnold has stayed radio silent with Real Madrid working tooth and nail to bring him to La Liga.

Reds supporters have attempted to theorise scenarios in which Trent is staying, flashes of hopeless hope, however, with those such as Fabrizio Romano revealing that a deal is all but done, it seems this is one pill that the club will have to swallow during an momentous achievement.

Premier League

255

18

66

Champions League

60

2

13

FA Cup

13

1

3

Carabao Cup

10

0

6

Europa League

5

0

2

Club World Cup

2

0

1

CL Qualifying

2

0

1

Community Shield

2

1

0

UEFA Super Cup

1

0

0

However, it’s frankly unlikely that Romano is simply acting as a mouthpiece for Los Blancos. The esteemed transfer journalist has repeatedly stressed that the England international’s Bosman move is in the final stages, with all parties confident that a deal will be struck.

Moreover, the word on the street is that Liverpool are scouring the market for a successor; Conor Bradley is an exciting talent but he missed out with injury once again on Sunday and cannot, surely, be Slot’s only real option next term.

With that in mind, Liverpool appear to be aiming for the stars.

Liverpool chasing exciting Trent replacement

According to transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Liverpool are among clubs interested in signing Jules Kounde and are being kept informed on his situation at Barcelona, though Chelsea appear to have the lead at this stage.

The Frenchman, who scored the winning goal in Saturday’s hotly-contested Clasico Copa del Rey final, is about to enter the penultimate year of his contract at Camp Nou, and his future is up in the air.

With Liverpool potentially in need of a high-class right-back, this could be a dream deal for Slot’s side, though Kounde wouldn’t come cheap, with Chelsea reportedly willing to offer €80m (£68m).

What Jules Kounde would add to Slot's squad

Barcelona signed Kounde from Sevilla for a reported £42m fee in 2022, beating Chelsea to the France international’s signature.

He’s since amassed 140 appearances for La Blaugrana, scoring seven goals and providing 18 assists for his teammates. A regular dynamo, Kounde is versatile, balanced and robust in his performances, having actually been described as “one of the best defenders in the world” by his former boss Xavi.

This season, for example, he ranks among the top 11% of full-backs in La Liga for pass completion, the top 3% for passes attempted and the top 7% for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.

Such metrics highlight, clearly, the ball-playing ability that Slot would make fantastic use of. He differs from Alexander-Arnold, but you can see that his passing game would still add a dimension to and enrich Liverpool’s defence.

Though the 26-year-old has only supplied three assists across 29 league fixtures under Hansi Flick this term, it’s clear this is a more stylistic choice, indeed completing 89% of his passes, as per Sofascore, working tirelessly toward promoting build-up play, funnelling the ball into the danger areas, where the likes of Lamine Yamal and Raphinha can wreak havoc.

That’s not to say he’s averse to his playmaking duties, of course. See below.

They can be a tad frustrating at times, but you can’t deny FSG know their stuff. Replacing Klopp was an impossible task, and so they opted not to.

Slot is cut from a different cloth. His tactical expertise aligns in some lanes with the German’s, but he’s a different character, cooler, more businesslike. Fist pumps after exhilarating victories, there are not.

In the same way, Liverpool simply won’t succeed in replacing a one-of-a-kind star such as Alexander-Arnold. Kounde is different, but bears some similarities.

Kounde’s “enormous potential” was sounded out by talent scout Jacek Kulig before he got his big Barcelona move, and the defender has proved ever since that he has the capacity for greatness.

It’s exactly what Liverpool need at right-back, and if the finances are there, he should be signed this summer.

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A “quality” Liverpool player’s agents have reportedly held multiple discussions with the sporting director of a huge European club over a move there this summer.

Liverpool players who could leave this summer

The Reds’ attack is in need of being bolstered in the summer transfer window, with an elite-level No.9 required to come in and make the Premier League champions even more formidable ahead of next season.

Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota don’t represent the long-term solution leading the line for Liverpool, while Luis Diaz isn’t a natural in a central role, even though he has performed well there at times in 2024/25, scoring 17 goals in all competitions.

The Reds need to sign a striker who is strong in terms of both end product and availability, with Nunez lacking in the former and Jota a constant issue in the latter, taking them to the next level and easing some of the pressure on Mohamed Salah, who has carried the attack at times.

The likes of Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike and Benjamin Sesko have all been mentioned as options – in fact, journalist Ben Jacobs has only recently talked up the Merseysiders’ chances of signing RB Leipzig ace Sesko, saying he has “become high” in Liverpool’s thinking.

Napoli sporting director in touch with "quality" Liverpool ace

According to Calciomercato journalist Daniele Longo [via Sport Witness], Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna has spoken to Nunez’s representatives about a summer move to the club.

It is claimed that he has had “more than one contact” with the Uruguayan’s agents, seeing him as a backup option to Lille star Jonathan David, who they are finding it hard to sign. The report also states that Nunez has decided he wants to leave Anfield this summer.

An exit for the 25-year-old feels like the ideal outcome for all parties in the coming weeks and months, with Liverpool’s No.9 simply not at the level required.

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The £140,000-a-week Nunez may be a popular figure among the fanbase, due to his personality, but patience has now worn thin with many, even though Jurgen Klopp said of him last year: “He had absolutely more than an OK first season but he had to adapt, that’s done, and he is settled in the middle of the team.

“He loves to play for this team together with these boys and has quality coming out of his ears, to be honest. Is he at his absolute peak in general? Not now for us. But can he develop? Yes. Is he a threat all the time? Yes.”

Appearances

29

Starts

8

Minutes played

1094

Goals

5

Assists

2

Key passes per game

0.3

Dribbles per game

0.3

Pass completion rate

70.9%

Ultimately, Nunez’s Liverpool career has been disappointing, considering the expectations of him when he arrived in 2022, with his finishing far too unpredictable and his all-round game lacking intelligence and subtlely. A summer farewell is a no-brainer, with a big upgrade on him required.

Already pursuing deals to sign Matheus Cunha and Liam Delap, Manchester United and INEOS have now reportedly submitted an opening bid to sign another Premier League talent.

Man Utd's attacking rebuild

Attack is often the best form of defence and if Ruben Amorim is to turn his Manchester United spell around before the pressure increases, it seems as though Manchester United must old saying to the test. Already, the Red Devils are reportedly advancing in deals to sign both Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers and Delap from Ipswich Town, but they may not be done there.

The two forwards should have an immediate impact on a struggling side at Old Trafford, who are set to end the Premier League campaign without back-to-back wins for the first time in the club’s history in a record that Amorim would have been desperate to avoid.

A big reason for that record has been Manchester United’s struggles in front of goal. Both Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have struggled to leave their marks when given the opportunity and both could now be heading for departures in ruthless fashion.

When compared with Delap and Cunha throughout the current campaign, it’s clear to see why the Red Devils are eyeing such an attacking overhaul, however.

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Delap, in a relegated Ipswich side, has clawed his way to 12 Premier League goals, whilst Cunha has been the star of the show at Wolves – scoring 15 league goals. Meanwhile, by some contrast, Hojlund and Zirkzee have managed a combined total of seven Premier League goals.

That said, INEOS may not stop after securing two fresh faces. Instead, reports are indicating that they’re pushing on to secure another Premier League star this summer.

Man Utd submit £55m offer to sign Mbeumo

According to reports in Spain, INEOS and Manchester United have now submitted a €65m (£55m) bid to sign Bryan Mbeumo for Amorim. Like Delap and Cunha, the Brentford star would be an instant upgrade on the current options at Old Trafford and could finally form a front three capable of matching Bruno Fernandes’ quality behind them.

Starts

36

22

14

Goals

18

4

3

Assists

7

0

1

Expected Goals

11

5.2

4.8

Scoring over double Hojlund and Zirkzee’s combined tally this season, it’s no surprise that Mbeumo has found himself at the centre of Thomas Frank’s praise.

The Brentford boss spoke about the form of both the Manchester United target and his strike partner Yoanne Wissa after both scored in an impressive victory against Brighton & Hove Albion last month, telling reporters: “That’s an incredible achievement from the two of them.

“All praise due the two of them for the hard work, how much they push, and then of course to my staff, and then I think a little bit to the way we play.”