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Aston Villa face a transfer fight with Manchester United to sign an “incredible” £67m star this summer, according to a new report.

Aston Villa chase new defender as Rogers gains admirers

The Villans strengthened their bid to finish in the top four over the weekend as they beat Nottingham Forest 2-1. Unai Emery will be keen to secure another season of Champions League football, as it will help their finances when it comes to the summer, and perhaps more importantly help them keep players such as Morgan Rogers.

NSWE prepared to spend: Aston Villa plot move for "aggressive" £50m star

He’s a wanted man.

ByTom Cunningham Apr 7, 2025

The midfielder has been one of Villa’s best players this season, and that has earned him the reward of an international stage. It may also not be a surprise to see Rogers’ performances have “attracted admirers”, according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein. No specific teams are mentioned, but it is clear that huge clubs have taken notice of the Villa midfielder.

On the incomings front, Villa are looking to make an offer to sign Ousmane Diomande from Sporting CP. Emery is keen on signing a new defender this summer, and Diomande has emerged on their radar, as Sporting are willing to sell as long as they receive a £50 million fee.

Aston Villa looking to beat Man Utd to Maignan deal

As well as looking to sign a new defender, Emery is also planning on strengthening his goalkeeper department, as according to journalist Niccolò Ceccarini, relayed by Sport Witness, Aston Villa are interested in signing AC Milan’s Mike Maignan, gathering information on the player and the chances of a deal.

The report states that Villa have taken an interest in Maignan and could now make a concrete approach to sign the France international this summer, as he will enter the final 12 months of his contract at San Siro. Maignan has agreed a new contract with Milan in principle but has yet to sign the deal, so he could be moved on by the Italian team this summer, but would still cost around £67 million.

Villa, who already have Emi Martinez between the sticks, are not the only team from the Premier League to take a close look at the shot-stopper, as Chelsea are also interested, despite having several goalkeepers on their books.

Manchester United are also keen on Maignan and are said to be preparing an offer to bring the Frenchman to Old Trafford as a replacement for Andre Onana. Maignan, who has been hailed “incredible” by former Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny, was asked about his future on Saturday after Milan’s 2-2 draw with Fiorentina.

Apps

154

Goals conceded

163

Clean sheets

55

The Frenchman was unwilling to talk about his contract situation at AC Milan: “As I said, I feel good at Milan; I give everything for the shirt every time I put it on, every day. At this moment, I tell the truth; I don’t want to talk about the contract; I want to talk about football.

“Milan deserves more; we want more. My personal case is not the most important thing at this moment.”

What did we witness last night at Old Trafford? Manchester United reached the Europa League quarter-final in the most incredible circumstances, beating French side Olympique Lyon 5-4 on the night, and 7-6 on aggregate, in what will go down as an all-time classic at Old Trafford.

It’s hard to know where to begin describing the action, but United were 2-0 up at half-time, thanks to goals from Manuel Ugarte and Diogo Dalot. However, they let that lead slip in the second half, with Lyon clawing it back to 2-2 on the night, taking the game to extra time.

The French side, who were down to 10 men after Corentin Tolisso was sent off for a second bookable offence, went 4-2 up on the night in extra time. The impressive Rayan Cherki scored their third, and Alexandre Lacazette the fourth, from the penalty spot.

However, this is Man United; they are never down and out. With 114 minutes on the clock, Bruno Fernandes pulled one back for the Red Devils, also with a penalty, before Kobbie Mainoo equalised in the 120th minute of the game. Enter Harry Maguire, who gave United a 5-4 lead in the 121st minute. His fantastic header met Casemiro’s cross and rifled into the back of the net, winning the game for the Red Devils.

It was an extraordinary night, with Mainoo making a huge impact off the bench.

Mainoo’s stats vs. Lyon

United fans will always get behind their academy graduates, so for Mainoo to score the equaliser in an instant classic, it must have been special for the United midfielder, who actually played at centre-forward, and the fans. What a goal it was, too.

Getting on the end of a smart touch by Casemiro, the England international showed exceptional composure to bring the ball down with the outside of his right foot.

He then created space and took a couple more touches, shifting the ball into a favourable position to shoot, before he let fly. Mainoo’s strike nestled in the far right corner, a sublime goal in extraordinary circumstances.

Tyler Fell, a journalist for GiveMeSport, was incredibly complimentary of Mainoo, giving him a 7.5/10 for his efforts against Lyon. The journalist praised the United number 37 for his ‘phenomenal’ effort.

After a performance like that, the 19-year-old surely has to become a more prominent starter under Ruben Amorim, especially now that he’s over his recent injury issue. The same can certainly be said for another of United’s top performers in the historic clash with Lyon.

The player who should be a key starter under Amorim

You might struggle to find a performance with as much character this season as the one Leny Yoro put in against Lyon. After scoring a crucial first goal in the first leg last week, he was sensational at Old Trafford on Thursday, putting his body on the line and showing excellent ability with the ball at his feet.

Fell clearly thought that Yoro was excellent against the French side. Just as he did for Mainoo, the GiveMeSport writer gave him a 7.5/10, exclaiming that he ‘defended heroically’ and ‘used his pace to bail his side out’ if Lyon found a way past United’s defensive line.

Indeed, the 19-year-old’s stats from the game show just how well he played. As per Sofascore, Yoro had 66 touches of the ball, made nine clearances and won four out of his five attempted tackles.

Touches

66

Pass accuracy

93%

Passes completed

43/46

Clearances

9

Ground duels won

5/9

Tackles won

4/5

Interceptions

2

Chances created

1

Described as a “generational” player by writer Liam Canning, it felt like a statement performance from the United number 15 against Lyon. In high-pressure moments, he was there, throwing his body on the line to stop the opponents from finding a way through.

It was a colossal showing from the teen sensation, who showed once again why he should, and has, become such a key player under Amorim. United have made it to the semi-finals of the Europa League, where they face a tough tie against Athletic Club.

It certainly feels like Yoro will be a pivotal part of this Red Devils side if they are to go all the way and lift the trophy in Bilbao at the end of the season.

Saved by Maguire: Man Utd must axe star who lost the ball every 4.8 touches

Harry Maguire proved to be Man Utd’s unlikely hero in Thursday’s crazy game at Old Trafford

ByRobbie Walls Apr 18, 2025

Could Steven Gerrard be poised to return as Rangers manager?

Well, according to widespread reports, including from Martin McMillan of the Glasgow Times, the Liverpool legend is amongst the front-runners to be re-appointed this summer.

Gerrard has been out of work since being sacked by Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq in January, with Jamie Braidwood of the Independent noting that he was regularly ‘met with boos and jeers’ by the club’s supporters for many months before his dismissal.

Nevertheless, the Englishman is significantly more popular in Govan, having been in charge for 192 matches between July 2018 and November 2021, winning 124 of them, leading the Gers to their only Premiership title since 2011.

With 49ers Enterprises, led by Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe, set to complete their 51% takeover of Rangers this summer, this is certainly an attractive job for someone to take on, and the investors, who plan to ‘inject additional capital’ into the club, could tempt Gerrard to return.

Next season will start early for Rangers, considering they will commence Champions League qualifying on 22/23 July, hence why they’ll be determined to get their managerial appointment and summer signings done early, so here is a potential dream lineup, should Gerrard choose to return.

1 GK – Liam Kelly

Up until very recently, Jack Butland had been Rangers’ undisputed number one goalkeeper, starting 88 of 94 Premiership or European matches between August 2024 and last month.

However, after a string of high-profile errors, Butland has been dropped to the bench by Barry Ferguson, with Liam Kelly getting the nod for the last four matches, including both legs of the Europa League tie against Athletic Club, notably brilliantly saving Álex Berenguer’s penalty at Ibrox.

At previous club Motherwell, for whom he made 154 appearances, Kelly proved he is a top-class goalkeeper, stating back in December that he fulfilled a lifetime’s ambition by making his Rangers debut, and the 29-year-old has done nothing so far to suggest he is not capable of donning the gloves long-term.

2 RB – James Tavernier

James Tavernier is unquestionably a Rangers legend, having now made 509 appearances for the Light Blues, only ten men have ever appeared more for the club, scoring 130 goals and providing 141 assists, remarkable statistics considering he is a full-back.

The captain has come in for widespread criticism this season, with Rangers legend Kris Boyd noting that “everybody goes on about the captain”, before refusing to blame Tavernier for the club’s miserable season.

So, potentially set to be reunited with Gerrard, for whom he starred, we believe now is not the time to move on Tavernier.

3 CB – John Souttar

Few players have been as unlucky when it comes to injuries as John Souttar, but this has certainly been his best campaign in a Rangers jersey, both in terms of availability and performance, notably missing only two of 14 UEFA competition fixtures.

The Scotland international is out of contract in the summer, with talks ‘on hold’ due to the club’s impending ownership change, but Souttar himself says that he hopes this is resolved soon, and his displays certainly merit an extension.

4 CB – Hjalmar Ekdal: new signing

Alongside, given that Leon Balogun is 36-years-old, Robin Pröpper has been very underwhelming and neither Clinton Nsiala nor Rafael Fernandes have offered very much, Rangers require a new signing at centre-back.

Well, according to a report by Anel Avdić of SportExpressen, this could be Burnley’s Hjalmar Ekdal. After not seeing a single minute of EFL Championship action for the Clarets, unable to displace either CJ Egan-Riley or Maxime Estève, the 26-year-old joined Groningen on loan in January, for whom he has impressed, starting their last ten Eredivisie matches.

Considering he’ll want to get back into Sweden’s squad ahead of next summer’s World Cup, Ekdal will likely be seeking a permanent move away from Burnley, so a switch to Glasgow, potentially linking up with Gerrard, would surely be appealing.

5 LB – Rıdvan Yılmaz

Summer signings Rıdvan Yılmaz and Jefté have seemingly been under a timeshare agreement for Rangers’ left-back spot this season but, of the two, it’s certainly the Turkish international who has impressed the most.

Before being appointed interim manager, Ferguson stated that the “little man has made a huge impression”, particularly impressed by Yılmaz’s output in the final third.

During Gerrard’s first spell, much of his success revolved around the attacking quality of full-backs Tavernier and the now departed Borna Barišić, meaning Yılmaz certainly fits the profile of what Gerrard would be searching for.

6 CM – Nicolas Raskin

Nicolas Raskin has been named both Rangers’ Player of the Year as well as the Players’ Player of the Year, stating that these individual accolades “mean the world” to him, fully deserving of this recognition, having been the club’s standout performer.

The 24-year-old has been a stalwart for the Light Blues this season, making 44 appearances, scoring during the win at Parkhead in March, and then becoming a full Belgian international a week later, debuting against Ukraine.

In an otherwise bleak campaign, Raskin has been one of Rangers’ best players, so they should certainly build around him.

7 CM – Mohamed Diomandé

Mohamed Diomandé and Raskin have formed quite a formidable partnership, with the Côte d’Ivoire international making 50 appearances across all competitions, scoring six goals and registering eight assists.

Ivory Coast manager Emerse Faé praised the 23-year-old’s “great season” in Glasgow, hence why he featured in both of les Éléphants’ World Cup qualifiers last month, so this midfield duo should certainly remain at the heart of Rangers’ rebuild.

8 RW – Václav Černý

Rangers’ most-productive attacker this season has been summer signing Václav Černý, scoring 17 goals and registering seven assists, netting six times in the Europa League, a tally only bettered by Kasper Høgh of Bodø/Glimt and Olympiacos’ Ayoub El-Kaabi.

The only problem for Rangers is the fact that Černý is only on loan from Wolfsburg, so they may have to spend big just to keep the Czech international in Govan.

Well, according to a report by Mark Walker of the National, the Bundesliga side would be willing to sell for £6.75m, which is obviously a lot of money for Rangers, but the 27-year-old has proved he is more than worth it.

9 CAM – Gio Reyna: new signing

During his two-year spell at Rangers, USA international Claudio Reyna played alongside future Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst, and would actually go on to name his son after the Dutch full-back.

Well, fast-forward 22 years and that son Gio Reyna is also a U.S. international, but one searching for a new club, having seen a miserly 603 minutes of action for Borussia Dortmund this season, out of contract with die Schwarzgelben in 12 months or so.

Well, according to recent reports, Gio – who is valued at £12m by Football Transfers – could follow in his father’s footsteps by moving to Ibrox, available for a cut-price deal, as Dortmund seek to move on the injury-prone forward.

Reyna’s creativity and attacking output could be exactly what Gerrard is looking for from a player in this position, while the American needs to join a club where he’ll be the main man, so this move could work for all parties.

10 LW – Ianis Hagi

Another injury-prone, mercurial attacker with a famous father, already at Rangers is Ianis Hagi, scoring five goals and providing seven assists since being reintegrated into the first team following a long-term injury in November.

Hagi, like Souttar, is out of contract in June, but he unquestionably played his best football in a Rangers jersey under Gerrard, so could his return convince both the club and the Romanian international himself to stay?

An “outstanding” defender who could be ideal for Arne Slot is now high on Liverpool’s transfer radar, according to a report.

Reds set sights on new left-back

Andy Robertson has been a fantastic servant to the Reds, with the Scottish left-back playing a key role in the Premier League title triumph this season, but it appears as though a long-term replacement could be brought in this summer.

Milos Kerkez is among the main targets, given the Hungarian’s impressive performances for AFC Bournemouth this season, while Slot’s side are also in the race for Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Rayan Ait-Nouri as a potential alternative.

There will be competition for Kerkez’s signature, however, with Manchester City also keen on the left-back, which means a list of alternative options is being compiled, and a report has now revealed a new target is now on the shortlist.

Liverpool make approach for "exceptional" £30m gem amid Brazilian scouting

The Reds are looking to fend off competition from elsewhere.

BySean Markus Clifford May 3, 2025

According to Anfield Watch, Club Brugge defender Maxim De Cuyper is now high on Liverpool’s transfer radar ahead of the summer transfer window, having scouted the left-back over the course of the last 12 months.

Dubbed a dream target, the Reds and FSG seemingly view De Cuyper as an ideal alternative to Kerkez, having impressed in the Champions League this season, most notably catching the eye by covering the second-most distance for Brugge in the competition.

Given that players in a Slot system need to work hard off the ball, the 24-year-old could be the perfect addition to the squad, and the fact that he could be available for £21m is also attractive, with Kerkez likely to cost far more.

Not only that, but the Brugge defender is also versatile and able to play at right-back, which also makes him appealing, given that Trent Alexander-Arnold is in line to leave this summer.

"Outstanding" De Cuyper impressing in Belgium

The full-back is yet to prove himself in a major league, but he has certainly caught the eye with his performances in Belgium this season, having received high praise from scout Ben Mattinson, who believes he is now ready to make the move to a bigger club.

Mattinson highlights the Belgian’s attacking capabilities, and he has flourished going forward over the past year, ranking in a high percentile across a number of key metrics.

Statistic

Average per 90

Assists

0.16 (85th percentile)

Shot-creating actions

4.93 (99th percentile)

Progressive passes

7.44 (99th percentile)

De Cuyper has proven he could be ready to make the step-up to a top club this summer, although it may be wise for Kerkez to remain the top target, given that the Bournemouth defender has already proven himself at Premier League level.

Manchester United are believed to be in contact about the signing of another exciting player this summer, according to a fresh transfer claim.

Man Utd set to sign Kana-Biyik as INEOS plot youth overhaul

The Red Devils won 3-0 away to Athletic Bilbao on Thursday evening, allowing them to start dreaming of a place in the Europa League final, and some intriguing transfer business was reported at the same time.

At the same time as the game was going on, renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano took to X to report that United have agreed a deal to sign Le Havre attacking sensation Enzo Kana-Biyik on a five-year deal.

At 18, Kana-Biyik is still clearly a raw talent, but it is a further sign that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS are targeting young players with huge potential this summer, as well as focusing on signing star men who can come in and be an immediate hit.

Winning the Europa League will only help United bring in the right players, ensuring qualification for the Champions League in the process, and now a new update has emerged alongside Kana-Biyik.

Man Utd make contact to sign La Liga 2 gem Christian Kofane

According to reports in Spain [via Sport Witness], Manchester United are among the clubs in contact to sign Christian Kofane from Albacete Balompie this summer. The striker has a £4.2m release clause in his contract that can be triggered this year.

The update claims that “half of Europe” have been in touch about signing the 18-year-old, with fellow Premier League clubs Newcastle United and Aston Villa mentioned, as well as Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Villarreal, Real Betis, Lille and Monaco.

Kofane may not yet be a household name, but he is a teenage star who could grow into a special player over time, having already scored six goals in 15 appearances for Albacete at senior level.

97% passing: 8/10 Man Utd star is now as undroppable as Bruno & Casemiro

Man Utd romped to a superb 3-0 win on the road on Thursday evening in the Europa League…

ByRobbie Walls May 2, 2025

Meanwhile, Under-23 scout Antonio Mango has hailed the “pace”, “technical skills” and “movement” that the Cameroonian has in his locker, showing that he is an attacker with many key attributes.

As is the case with Kana-Biyik, Kofane isn’t the immediate solution for United, and could be loaned out given he has only thrived in the second tier in Spain so far, but the level of interest in him shows what a mouthwatering prospect he is.

In a major boost, Manchester United have now reportedly been contacted with the chance to sign one of their top summer targets at a bargain price, which could tempt INEOS into a deal.

Man Utd's Europa League charge "not the issue" – Amorim

Somehow, some way, all hope is not lost for 16th-place Manchester United. Despite being closer to the relegation zone than the top five, the Red Devils have one last chance to salvage some pride and receive the undeniable boost of Champions League football courtesy of the Europa League. Now under a week away from their meeting with a Tottenham Hotspur side equally as desperate for victory, it cannot be overstated just how important the final will be.

Whilst Ruben Amorim will be more aware than most of next week’s importance, he’s been keen to reiterate that Manchester United’s season has been a failure with or without victory in the Europa League.

The Portuguese manager told reporters: “I think… Are we supposed to feel a manager of Manchester United in that position, embarrassed, and it’s hard to accept. And I think everybody has to think seriously about a lot of things here.

“Everybody is thinking about the final, the final is not the issue in this moment in our club, we have bigger, bigger things to think [about]. And we have to change a lot of things in the end of the season.”

Amorim now personally driving Man Utd move to sign £80m+ Carrick-esque star

Amorim is reportedly a huge fan.

ByTom Cunningham May 15, 2025

That said, there’s no denying that victory in the Europa League is likely to ease the pressure on Amorim and allow Manchester United to welcome some much-needed reinforcements this summer.

Just who those reinforcements are remains to be seen, but it’s clear that another overhaul is needed at Old Trafford and one Ligue 1 star would be the perfect player to commence that rebuild.

Man Utd offered chance to sign Cherki

According to Caught Offside, Manchester United have now been contacted with the chance to sign Rayan Cherki by the Frenchman’s agent ahead of the summer transfer window. Available at the bargain price of just £19m in the coming months, Cherki has found himself on Manchester United’s radar as a top target more than once in recent weeks, with INEOS now reportedly tempted to swoop in and secure his signature.

Earning praise from football talent scout Jacek Kulig for a “magnificent” season, Cherki would be the perfect fit for Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system at Manchester United.

Ready-made to slot straight into one of the two No.10 roles behind the lone striker, the Frenchman would finally help the Red Devils to rediscover their attacking spark if he completed a summer switch.

As Manchester City go in pursuit of replacing Kevin De Bruyne and finding an alternative option to Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz, they’ve reportedly set their sights on a shock move to sign an Arsenal star.

Man City bid farewell to De Bruyne

The crossbar may have denied him a final goal at The Etihad, but Kevin De Bruyne has plenty of other memories to fall back on in a Manchester City shirt. The Belgian bowed out in front of his home fans for the final time in an emotional farewell and undoubtedly has his place among the best players to ever play for the Citizens.

A Champions League winner, a serial Premier League winner, the only player to ever match Thierry Henry’s Premier League assist record and so much more, replacing De Bruyne will be the toughest task that Manchester City have had to complete in the modern era.

Pep Guardiola, like many, was full of praise for the midfielder, telling reporters in his post-match press conference: “Messi is the best I have ever seen because Messi has done it really, really close to the box but Kevin is there. It’s just the stats, the goals, the assists, that he provides to the team in the final third and the talent.

Genuine chance Man City hijack £45m "mad man" Liverpool are working to sign

Man City have now made an approach to sign a player who Liverpool have held talks with.

1 ByBrett Worthington May 21, 2025

“That is unique, that is why he has been one of the best players this club has had in the whole history. These are big, big words because he has been a special player.”

With their farewell complete, however, Man City must now search for a replacement and with a deal to sign Wirtz unlikely at this stage, it could be an option far closer to home that emerges.

Man City eyeing shock Nwaneri move

According to The Boot Room, Manchester City are now eyeing the chance to sign Ethan Nwaneri in a shock move from Arsenal. The Hale End graduate, who is valued at £84m, is yet to sign a new deal in North London despite turning 18 years old this season and has, therefore, alerted those at The Etihad as well as Liverpool.

It would be some move from Manchester City, who witnessed Nwaneri’s quality first-hand when he scored Arsenal’s final goal in a 5-1 thrashing of Guardiola’s side earlier this season. For Arsenal, meanwhile, it would be a familiar feeling, having previously seen the likes of Kolo Toure and Samir Nasri ditch them in favour of the Blues.

The talented teenager is certainly not someone that Mikel Arteta will want to lose, especially to a top six rival.

The Spaniard was full of praise for his academy graduate earlier this season, telling reporters after Nwaneri scored his first Champions League goal: “That’s what we love about him – he’s very aggressive. Before that [goal], he had another action where he made the right choice, he went for it.

“He never [looks nervous], he’s so composed, calm and confident in his ability. At 17, scoring a really important goal in the Champions League is not very common.”

Talks are now underway as Aston Villa look to complete the signing of a “world-class” player this summer, according to a new transfer update.

Asensio happy to stay at Aston Villa

Unai Emery’s side ultimately missed out on Champions League qualification this season, but it was still another productive campaign overall, with loanees Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio making a good impression.

The 29-year-old Spaniard added proven quality and end product to Villa’s attack, scoring three goals in the Premier League and Champions League, and he spoke of his admiration for Emery.

“Unai is a coach that I’ve known for a while. He’s had a great career, he’s a top coach, he’s been key in me being able to come here because of his idea of how he wants to play football. I love it, it suits me perfectly and he’s a really important person as to why I’m here right now.”

Thankfully, Asensio is reportedly open to staying put at Villa and signing for good this summer, which will go down well with many supporters, considering the impact former Real Madrid man has made at times. Now, a new update has provided further news on the situation.

New Asensio to Aston Villa update emerges

According to Birmingham World, Aston Villa have held talks with PSG over the permanent signing of Asensio this summer, in a positive update. The Villans are “eager” to snap him up as soon as possible, no doubt to ensure that another team doesn’t get there first, and it is even claimed that Emery is “obsessed with the idea” of retaining his services.

Villa signing Asensio permanently is a no-brainer, with the Spain international still very much in his peak years, and capable of being a talismanic attacking player moving forward.

The £6m-a-year attacker is a match-winning footballer with a winning mentality, having scored in the 2017 Champions League final and won the competition three times during his Madrid days, and Matthew Upson has heaped praise on him.

“Marco Asensio is clever in where he positions himself. It’s a nightmare really. He comes on the pitch, and he has the knack to pick up the right areas. You need to get yourself in a mentality that, when it’s your turn to play your part, you’re at your best, and you’re delivering. That’s what world-class players do. He’s in that bracket. He’s a great signing for Villa, and he’s going to play a big part in the exciting finish to the season they have ahead.”

Martinez upgrade: Aston Villa eyeing "one of the best young GKs in Europe"

With Emi Martínez potentially poised to leave Aston Villa this summer, could they replace him with one of Europe’s “most talented young goalkeepers”?

ByBen Gray Jun 2, 2025

Signing Asensio would feel like a statement of intent by Villa, showing that they are capable of tying down world-renowned players on a permanent basis, even without Champions League football.

Hopefully, he can play a huge part in the next three or four years, potentially even becoming one of the Villans’ best attacking players of the Premier League era.

Manchester United are in the market to sign a new centre-forward to lead the line for Ruben Amorim in the 2025/26 campaign, and that could spell trouble for Rasmus Hojlund at Old Trafford.

The latest on Rasmus Hojlund's future at Man Utd

According to the print edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport, as relayed by FCInterNews, Italian giants Inter want to sign the Denmark international to replace Mehdi Taremi this summer.

The Serie A side, who finished second in the league and were finalists in the Champions League, have ‘accelerated’ a move to snap up the former Atalanta attacker from the Red Devils.

La Gazzetta dello Sport adds that Hojlund has made it clear that he likes the idea of playing for Inter next season, but it remains to be seen whether or not he will really push for the transfer.

The outlet claims that Inter are pushing to sign him on loan with an obligation to make it permanent next summer, whilst Manchester United would prefer an instant sale to boost their coffers.

Hojlund is said to be valued at around £38m by the Premier League giants, which is more than Inter are willing to spend on a new striker at this time, and the two clubs are in talks over a deal that would work for all parties.

His exit from Old Trafford would pave the way for a new centre-forward to arrive in Manchester, though, and the club are already reportedly eyeing his replacement.

Man Utd in positive talks to sign Bundesliga striker

According to Foot Mercato, Manchester United are interested in a deal to sign former France U21 international Hugo Ekitike from Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt.

The report claims that the Red Devils are progressing in positive talks to bring the former PSG marksman over to England during the summer transfer window, as they look to improve their options at the top end of the pitch.

It states that the Premier League side are accelerating a deal for the 22-year-old centre-forward, after making positive contact with his representatives to discuss a move to Old Trafford.

Foot Mercato adds that United have also contacted Frankfurt to discuss a potential fee for Ekitike, who scored 22 goals in all competitions during the 2024/25 campaign, and that all parties are feeling positive at this moment in time.

The outlet, however, also reveals that Liverpool and Chelsea are also interested in signing the French attacker and could provide competition for his signature.

This may be why the Red Devils are ‘accelerating’ a swoop for the young marksman, amid talks with the player and Frankfurt, as they look to win the race for his services.

Analyst Ben Mattinson described him as “one of the best strikers out there” in March, and his statistics in the 2024/25 campaign suggest that he would be a big upgrade on what United currently have at their disposal.

Appearances

32

33

Shots on target per game

0.4

1.5

Goals

4

15

Goals per game

0.1

0.5

Big chances created

4

12

Assists

0

8

As you can see in the table above, Ekitike vastly outperformed Hojlund at league level as both a scorer and a creator of goals in the number nine position, producing 27 goals and ‘big chances’ created combined, in comparison to the Dane’s eight.

This is why this fresh report detailing United’s pursuit of the Frankfurt star should come as good news to Amorim, who could have a huge upgrade for his attack if the transfer goes through this summer.

Man Utd set to prioritise deal for £65m star if Tottenham sign Mbeumo

The Red Devils have a backup plan.

1 ByTom Cunningham Jun 15, 2025

Since being named manager in 2019, Mikel Arteta has got an awful lot right at Arsenal.

He helped to turn a defensively disastrous team into the most secure in the Premier League, rooted out those who weren’t aligned with the culture he was trying to create, and, most importantly, transformed the team into genuine title contenders.

One of the ways he was able to do the latter was by bringing in the right players, and when it comes to his best signing, it’s hard to look past Declan Rice.

So, fans should be excited about recent reports linking Arsenal to a player who could be another Rice.

Arsenal transfer news

Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other stars who have been touted for a move to Arsenal in recent weeks and months, like Martin Zubimendi and Rodrygo.

Transfer Focus

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The former has been heavily linked with a move to the club since Sami Mokbel claimed he was set to join in a report in January, and now, in the face of rumours suggesting he could move to Real Madrid, The Athletic’s David Ornstein has confirmed that he is set to sign for the Gunners.

On the other hand, it feels like we are a long way off from finding out where Rodrygo will end up at the end of summer, although, with a price tag of around £84m, there is every chance he ends up moving to the Emirates.

That said, while the Brazilian would be an excellent attacking addition to the team, it would be hard to describe his potential move as being Rice-esque, which is not the same for Marc Guehi.

Yes, according to a recent report from James McNicholas of The Athletic, Arsenal are interested in the Crystal Palace star this summer.

In fact, the report claims that the England international is now ‘high on their list’ of defensive targets, and the fact he’s about to enter the final year of his deal at Selhurst Park only makes him a more appealing option.

A potential price for the 24-year-old is not mentioned in the report, but according to other stories from this month, the fact he’s nearing the end of his current contract means he could be available for around £50m, which could be good value for money, especially as his move would be somewhat reminiscent of Rice’s.

Why Guehi's move would be Rice-esque

So, the first thing to say is that, yes, Rice and Guehi play in very different positions and most certainly have very different playstyles, but we aren’t making the argument that the latter would be just like the former at Arsenal.

Instead, the potential transfer of the Crystal Palace star would mirror that of the former West Ham United captain, and there are a few reasons why.

Firstly, it would be another example of Arteta not just signing an England international but arguably one of the most essential players in the Three Lions squad.

For example, at the European Championships last summer, the former Chelsea gem started and played in every single game bar the quarter-finals due to a suspension and didn’t put a foot wrong throughout, notably now renowned as “England’s best centre-back” following his immense form.

Likewise, in the final international tournament before his move to the Emirates, the 2022 World Cup, the Gunners midfield monster played in and started every game right up until France knocked the team out.

The second similarity is that the North Londoners would once again be signing not just a star player from another London-based Premier League team but their captain.

Finally, as Rice had before his move, the “world-class” Eagles star, as dubbed by one Palace content creator, would be moving to the Premier League runners-up with an abundance of experience for someone his age.

Crystal Palace

155

8

4

Swansea

59

0

0

Chelsea

2

0

0

England

23

0

0

Total

239

8

4

For example, despite being only 24, the Abidjan-born “tank,” as dubbed by former England U21 teammate Josef Bursik, has made 23 senior appearances for England, 155 for Palace, 59 for Swansea and two for the Blues.

Ultimately, while a new centre-back isn’t exactly a top priority at the moment, Arsenal would do well to sign Guehi this summer.

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