Jobe Bellingham’s Sunderland future has been a talking point throughout this season, and now a new update has emerged ahead of the Championship playoff final.

Sunderland 90 minutes away from the Premier League

The Black Cats are preparing for one of the biggest games in their recent history on Saturday afternoon, as they battle Sheffield United at Wembley for a place back in the Premier League.

It is a mammoth occasion for both sides, in what is considered the most valuable game in the English football calendar, and Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris has said that his players have matched his pre-season expectations of them.

“We are exactly where we wanted to be. In our first meeting in this room, I asked them what is the purpose of the season and they told me they wanted to get promoted. Here we are. We’ll have this opportunity.”

The difference between victory and defeat on Saturday cannot be downplayed, with Sunderland knowing that a return to the Premier League will not only allow them to sign better players this summer, but also give them a better chance of retaining the services of current Stadium of Light heroes, from Bellingham to Chris Rigg.

The former has been linked with a move to follow in his brother’s footsteps by joining Borussia Dortmund, and there has been a development in that story ahead of the final.

Dortmund confident after talks with Bellingham

According to Bild [via Sport Witness], Bellingham has held “fruitful” talks with Borussia Dortmund over a summer move to the European giants, who now believe they are well placed to sign him.

It is stated that several Premier League clubs are also in the race to sign the youngster, however, with champions Liverpool mentioned as potential suitors. Much will hinge on the playoff final result, with defeat for the Black Cats almost certainly meaning he will leave.

If Saturday’s game isn’t big enough already, Sunderland will know that beating the Blades will give them a far greater chance of keeping Bellingham, which is a major incentive. The 19-year-old has been such an influential performer throughout the season, starting 41 Championship matches and being lauded by captain Dan Neil, who said of him back in 2023.

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In truth, Sunderland can’t necessarily expect Bellingham to stay if they remain in the Championship next season, with the Englishman no doubt having big ambitions.

The lure of testing himself in the Premier League for the Black Cats isn’t out of the question, though, so it’s a case of them getting the job done this weekend.

Arsenal have been one of the Champions League’s most frequent participants, but have not been able to take home the famous trophy.

The Gunners have come unstuck against Bayern Munich and PSG since returning to the competition after six seasons away, with Mikel Arteta’s side spending years in the relative wilderness of the Europa League (as well as one year out of Europe altogether) before threatening to go all the way in 2024/25.

From repeated last-16 heartache to final… heartbreak, the Gunners have had quite a journey in the Champions League over the years.

So how does Arsenal’s Champions League record shape up? While they had two European Cup campaigns in 1971 and 1991, they have appeared in 21 of the last 27 editions of the UEFA Champions League ahead of their expected entry in 2025/26.

Arsenal's top 25 Champions League moments

Arsenal have enjoyed some of their greatest European nights in the Champions League.

By
Mark Marston

May 15, 2025

Here is a complete Arsenal record in Europe’s premier club competition.

Arsenal’s record in the Champions League
Season	Stage reached	Beaten by
1998/99	Group stage	Dynamo Kyiv, Lens, Panathinaikos
1999/00	Group stage	Barcelona, Fiorentina, AIK
2000/01	Quarter-finals	Valencia
2001/02	Second group stage	Leverkusen, Deportivo, Arsenal
2002/03	Second group stage	Valencia, Ajax, Roma
2003/04	Quarter-finals	Chelsea
2004/05	Round of 16	Bayern Munich
2005/06	Final	Barcelona
2006/07	Round of 16	PSV
2007/08	Quarter-finals	Liverpool
2008/09	Semi-finals	Man Utd
2009/10	Quarter-finals	Barcelona
2010/11	Round of 16	Barcelona
2011/12	Round of 16	Milan
2012/13	Round of 16	Bayern Munich
2013/14	Round of 16	Bayern Munich
2014/15	Round of 16	Monaco
2015/16	Round of 16	Barcelona
2016/17	Round of 16	Bayern Munich
2023/24	Quarter-finals	Bayern Munich
2024/25	Semi-finals	PSG

1998/99

First CL campaign ends in group stage disappointment

Arsenal secured their maiden UEFA Champions League berth after winning the Premier League title in Arsene Wenger’s first full season at the club.

Their first two seasons in the competition were marked by the Gunners playing their home games at Wembley in order to play in front of larger crowds, with the national stadium having almost double the amount of seats as Highbury.

Unfortunately, with only group winners guaranteed a quarter-final place, Arsenal were left to rue some late equalisers as they ended up finishing third on the head-to-head rule.

Arsenal Champions League results 1998/99
Round	Opponent	Result	Goalscorers
Group stage	Lens (a)	D 1-1	Vairelles / Overmars
Group stage	Panathinaikos (h)	W 2-1	Adams, Keown / Mauro
Group stage	Dynamo Kyiv (h)	D 1-1	Bergkamp / Rebrov
Group stage	Dynamo Kyiv (a)	L 1-3	Rebrov, Holovko, Shevchenko / Hughes
Group stage	Lens (h)	L 0-1	Debeve
Group stage	Panathinaikos (a)	W 3-1	Sypniewski / Asanovic (og), Anelka, Boa Morte

1999/00

Fiorentina and Barcelona win at Wembley to eliminate Gunners

Arsenal came up against some world superstars such as Gabriel Batistuta and Rivaldo in the first group stage, and while they were far from embarrassed, they fell short by a point to finish third once again.

They found solace in a run to the UEFA Cup final, where they were beaten on penalties by Galatasaray.

Arsenal Champions League results 1999/00
Round	Opponent	Result	Goalscorers
Group stage	Fiorentina (a)	D 0-0	None
Group stage	AIK (h)	W 3-1	Ljungberg, Henry, Suker / Nordin
Group stage	Barcelona (a)	D 1-1	Luis Enrique / Kanu
Group stage	Barcelona (h)	L 2-4	Bergkamp, Overmars / Rivaldo, Luis Enrique, Figo, Cocu
Group stage	Fiorentina (h)	L 0-1	Batistuta
Group stage	AIK (a)	W 3-2	A. Andersson (2) / Overmars (2), Suker

2000/01

Gunners suffer away goals heartbreak Pt. 1

The 2000/01 campaign was the first time the Gunners made it through the group stage – a feat they repeated for the following 16 years.

It was also the one and only time they made it past the second group stage before it was discontinued in 2003.

Qualifying comfortably from the group as winners, they survived a second group stage including would-be familiar foes Bayern Munich, before falling to Valencia on away goals in the quarter-finals despite Ray Parlour’s first-leg screamer.

Arsenal Champions League results 2000/01
Round	Opponent	Result	Goalscorers
Group stage	Sparta Prague (a)	W 1-0	Sylvinho
Group stage	Shakhtar Donetsk (h)	W 3-2	Wiltord, Keown (2) / Bakharev, Vorobey
Group stage	Lazio (h)	W 2-0	Ljungberg (2)
Group stage	Lazio (a)	D 1-1	Pires
Group stage	Sparta Prague	W 4-2	Parlour, Lauren, Dixon, Kanu / Labant, Rosicky
Group stage	Shakhtar Donetsk (a)	L 0-3	Atelkin, Vorobey, Byelik
Second group stage	Spartak Moscow (a)	L 1-4	Marcao (2), Titov, Robson / Sylvinho
Second group stage	Bayern Munich (h)	D 2-2	Henry, Kanu / Tarnat, Scholl
Second group stage	Lyon (a)	W 1-0	Henry
Second group stage	Lyon (h)	D 1-1	Bergkamp / Edmilson
Second group stage	Spartak Moscow (h)	W 1-0	Henry
Second group stage	Bayern Munich (a)	L 0-1	Elber
Quarter-final 1st leg	Valencia (h)	W 2-1	Henry, Parlour / Ayala
Quarter-final 2nd leg	Valencia (a)	L 0-1	Carew

2001/02

Double winners fall short in Europe again

Arsenal won all their home games to squeeze into the second group stage, where although they defeated eventual finalists Bayer Leverkusen, the Gunners were knocked out, with two defeats against then-Spanish giants Deportivo proving crucial.

Wenger’s men continued to impress on the domestic front, with another league and cup double leaving European success as the missing part in the trophy cabinet.

Arsenal Champions League results 2001/02
Round	Opponent	Result	Goalscorers
First group stage	Mallorca (a)	L 0-1	Engonga
First group stage	Schalke (h)	W 3-2	Ljungberg, Henry (2) / Van Hoogdalem, Mpenza
First group stage	Panathinaikos (a)	L 0-1	Karagounis
First group stage	Panathinaikos (h)	W 2-1	Henry (2) / Olisadebe
First group stage	Mallorca (h)	W 3-1	Pires, Bergkamp, Henry / Novo
First group stage	Schalke (a)	L 1-3	Mulder, Vermant, Moller / Wiltord
Second group stage	Deportivo (a)	L 0-2	Makaay, Tristan
Second group stage	Juventus (h)	W 3-1	Ljungberg (2), Henry / Taylor (og)
Second group stage	Bayer Leverkusen (a)	D 1-1	Kirsten / Pires
Second group stage	Bayer Leverkusen (h)	W 4-1	Pires, Henry, Vieira, Bergkamp / Sebescen
Second group stage	Deportivo (h)	L 0-2	Valeron, Naybet
Second group stage	Juventus (a)	L 0-1	Zalayeta

2002/03

Gunners draw four of six second-phase games

Experienced Champions League participants by this point, Arsenal secured a routine second group stage spot after seeing off the likes of Borussia Dortmund and PSV.

While they had their moments in the second group stage – including Thierry Henry’s hat-trick against Roma – failure to convert draws into wins saw Ajax and Valencia pip the Gunners to the two quarter-final berths.

Arsenal Champions League results 2002/03
Round	Opponent	Result	Goalscorers
First group stage	Borussia Dortmund (h)	W 2-0	Bergkamp, Ljungberg
First group stage	PSV (a)	W 4-0	Gilberto, Ljungberg, Henry (2)
First group stage	Auxerre (a)	W 1-0	Gilberto
First group stage	Auxerre (h)	L 1-2	Kanu / Kapo, Fadiga
First group stage	Borussia Dortmund (a)	L 1-2	Rosicky (2) / Henry
First group stage	PSV (h)	D 0-0	None
Second group stage	Roma (a)	W 3-1	Cassano / Henry (3)
Second group stage	Valencia (h)	D 0-0	None
Second group stage	Ajax (h)	D 1-1	Wiltord / De Jong
Second group stage	Ajax (a)	D 0-0	None
Second group stage	Roma (h)	D 1-1	Vieira / Cassano
Second group stage	Valencia (a)	L 1-2	Carew (2) / Henry

2003/04

Wayne Bridge denies Invincibles shot at European glory

With the second group stage now a thing of the past, Arsenal were arguably at their very best and poised to bring the Champions League to N5 for the first time.

A disastrous start to the group stage was remedied by three successive victories which included their 5-1 demolition of Inter at San Siro, before easing past Celta Vigo in the last 16 and being handed a quarter-final tie with London rivals Chelsea.

Despite a rocking first 45, Arsenal were unable to make their home advantage count as the Blues snatched the tie late on, leaving the Gunners to wonder what might have been as FC Porto went all the way.

Arsenal Champions League results 2003/04
Round	Opponent	Result	Goalscorers
Group stage	Inter (h)	L 0-3	Cruz, Van der Meyde, Martins
Group stage	Lokomotiv Moscow (a)	D 0-0	None
Group stage	Dynamo Kyiv (a)	L 1-2	Shatskikh, Belkevich / Henry
Group stage	Dynamo Kyiv (h)	W 1-0	Cole
Group stage	Inter (a)	W 5-1	Vieri / Henry (2), Ljungberg, Edu, Pires
Group stage	Lokomotiv Moscow	W 2-0	Pires, Ljungberg
Round of 16 1st leg	Celta Vigo (a)	W 3-2	Edu, Jose Ignacio / Edu (2), Pires
Round of 16 2nd leg	Celta Vigo (h)	W 2-0	Henry (2)
Quarter-final 1st leg	Chelsea (a)	D 1-1	Gudjohnsen / Pires
Quarter-final 2nd leg	Chelsea (h)	L 1-2	Reyes / Lampard, Bridge

2004/05

Arsenal fall to Bayern despite second-leg win

Arsenal topped their group despite winning just two of their six matches, though their reward of meeting Bayern Munich in the last 16 (sound familiar?) saw the Gunners endure another early exit.

After a 3-1 defeat at a snowy Olympiastadion, Arsenal threatened to stage a remarkable comeback in the second leg, but their 1-0 win was not enough to advance to the quarters.

Arsenal Champions League results 2004/05
Round	Opponent	Result	Goalscorers
Group stage	PSV (h)	W 1-0	Alex (og)
Group stage	Rosenborg (a)	D 1-1	Strand / Ljungberg
Group stage	Panathinaikos (a)	D 2-2	Gonzalez, Olisadebe / Ljungberg, Henry
Group stage	Panathinaikos (h)	D 1-1	Henry / Cygan (og)
Group stage	PSV (a)	D 1-1	Ooijer / Henry
Group stage	Rosenborg	W 5-1	Reyes, Henry, Fabregas, Pires, Van Persie / Hoftun
Round of 16 1st leg	Bayern Munich (a)	L 1-3	Pizarro (2), Salihamidzic / Toure
Round of 16 2nd leg	Bayern Munich (h)	W 1-0	Henry

2005/06

Gunners lose in Paris finale amid historic campaign

Arsenal’s closest call to date came in what was their final European campaign at Highbury. They bowed out in style by easing through the group, and enjoyed a magical night at the Santiago Bernabeu before holding Real Madrid to a goalless draw in north London.

Their penultimate night under the Highbury lights in Europe saw Cesc Fabregas and Thierry Henry see off Juventus before another shutout in Turin, while there was more drama in the semi-final.

Kolo Toure scored Highbury’s last-ever Champions League goal as they took a slender advantage to Spain, where a late Jens Lehmann penalty save secured Arsenal a place in the Champions League final.

The final was also fraught with controversy, with Lehmann’s first-half sending-off leaving the Gunners up against it, though they somehow led at half-time through Sol Campbell’s header.

Barcelona’s equaliser had more of a hint of offside about it, before the 10 men’s luck ran out late on, as Juliano Belletti’s winner broke Arsenal hearts.

Arsenal Champions League results 2005/06
Round	Opponent	Result	Goalscorers
Group stage	FC Thun (h)	W 2-1	Gilberto, Bergkamp / Ferreira
Group stage	Ajax (a)	W 2-1	Rosenberg / Ljungberg, Pires
Group stage	Sparta Prague (a)	W 2-0	Henry (2)
Group stage	Sparta Prague (h)	W 3-0	Henry, Van Persie (2)
Group stage	FC Thun (a)	W 1-0	Pires
Group stage	Ajax (h)	D 0-0	None
Round of 16 1st leg	Real Madrid	W 1-0	Henry
Round of 16 2nd leg	Real Madrid	D 0-0	None
Quarter-final 1st leg	Juventus	W 2-0	Fabregas, Henry
Quarter-final 2nd leg	Juventus	D 0-0	None
Semi-final 1st leg	Villarreal	W 1-0	Toure
Semi-final 2nd leg	Villarreal	D 0-0	None
Final	Barcelona	L 1-2	Campbell

2006/07

PSV’s Alex nets at both ends to send Gunners out

Arsenal’s fourth-place finish the previous year – their lowest under Wenger – saw the Frenchman’s side in the unfamiliar territory of having to enter the qualifying rounds, where they defeated Dinamo Zagreb over two legs.

The Gunners topped their group once more, but their run came to an abrupt end when Alex nodded in a last-gasp equaliser for PSV in the last 16 to defeat Arsenal on aggregate.

Arsenal Champions League results 2006/07
Round	Opponent	Result	Goalscorers
Third qualifying round 1st leg	Dinamo Zagreb (a)	W 3-0	Fabregas (2), Van Persie
Third qualifying round 2nd leg	Dinamo Zagreb (h)	W 2-1	Ljungberg, Flamini / Eduardo
Group stage	Hamburg (a)	W 2-1	Sanogo / Gilberto, Rosicky
Group stage	Porto (h)	W 2-0	Henry, Hleb
Group stage	CSKA Moscow (a)	L 0-1	Carvalho
Group stage	CSKA Moscow (h)	D 0-0	None
Group stage	Hamburg (h)	W 3-1	Van Persie, Eboue, Baptista / Van der Vaart
Group stage	Porto (a)	D 0-0	None
Round of 16 1st leg	PSV (a)	L 0-1	Mendez
Round of 16 2nd leg	PSV (h)	D 1-1	Alex (og) / Alex

2007/08

Contentious penalty sees Arsenal’s San Siro victory count for nothing

This was another campaign that left the Gunners licking their wounds, as Arsenal were minutes away from the semi-finals before a late, debatable penalty call at Anfield put paid to their efforts to see off English opposition in the Champions League.

Arsenal dazzled at times in the group stage, securing their biggest-ever Champions League win in their 7-0 rout against Slavia Prague. They then dispatched holders Milan with a memorable victory at San Siro before meeting Liverpool in the last eight, where the Reds’ European experience showed.

Arsenal Champions League results 2007/08
Round	Opponent	Result	Goalscorers
Third qualifying round 1st leg	Sparta Prague (a)	W 2-0	Fabregas, Hleb
Third qualifying round 2nd leg	Sparta Prague (h)	W 3-0	Rosicky, Fabregas, Eduardo
Group stage	Sevilla (h)	W 3-0	Fabregas, Van Persie, Eduardo
Group stage	Steaua Bucharest (a)	W 1-0	Van Persie
Group stage	Slavia Prague (h)	W 7-0	Fabregas (2), Hubacek (og), Walcott (2), Hleb, Bendtner
Group stage	Slavia Prague (a)	D 0-0	None
Group stage	Sevilla (a)	L 1-3	Keita, Luis Fabiano, Kanoute / Eduardo
Group stage	Steaua Bucharest (h)	W 2-1	Diaby, Bendtner / Zaharia
Round of 16 1st leg	Milan (h)	D 0-0	None
Round of 16 2nd leg	Milan (a)	W 2-0	Fabregas, Adebayor
Quarter-final 1st leg	Liverpool (h)	D 1-1	Adebayor / Kuyt
Quarter-final 2nd leg	Liverpool (a)	L 2-4	Hyypia, Torres, Gerrard, Babel / Diaby, Adebayor

The defeat in the Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday night highlights the need for a serious overhaul at Manchester United this summer.

Ruben Amorim’s side were unable to get the better of their Premier League opponents, topping off what has been a dismal campaign on and off the pitch for the Red Devils.

The manager has attempted to make the best out of the players currently on the books at Old Trafford, but he’s so far been unable to do so in his seven-month spell at the helm.

In the aftermath of the loss, the 40-year-old stated that he would leave if the board didn’t think he was the right man for the job, but they have since backed the former Sporting CP boss to turn things around.

However, the real backing will come within the transfer market, allowing him to make the necessary changes he requires to catapult the side back to their former glory.

The latest on Alejandro Garnacho's future

Attacker Alejandro Garnacho has previously been linked with a move away from United in recent months, with Chelsea and Napoli registering interest in his services back in January.

However, the Argentine could well leave the Red Devils this window, after being benched for the Europa League final and venting his frustrations in an interview after the game.

It’s been reported by ESPN that the player and his representatives are frustrated after the loss in Bilbao, with the 20-year-old now seeing his future away from the Theatre of Dreams.

The report also claims that he already has proposals to leave the club during the off-season, but doesn’t mention how much the hierarchy would demand for his signature.

However, despite the situation surrounding Garnacho, one other player needs to be sold this summer after his dismal run within the ranks since Amorim’s arrival.

The United player who needs to be sold alongside Garnacho

United’s lowly league standing in 2024/25 is nothing short of unacceptable, especially considering the previous success endured over the last few decades.

The club have gone from fighting for Premier League titles to now sitting in 16th position and out of all forms of European football in 2025/26 – something which could impact their finances.

Whilst new signings are undoubtedly needed to improve the current situation, it could depend on departures from the current squad, with Garnacho one who looks set to be sacrificed.

However, he could be joined out of the door by striker Rasmus Hojlund, with the Danish international clearly not at the level required for future success.

The 22-year-old was bought for £72m in the summer of 2023, with huge things expected, but he’s simply failed to deliver – notching just 10 goals in his 51 appearances this season.

He’s been unable to extract his best performances, even going 21 games without a goal at one stage, leading to one content creator labelling him as a “serious problem”.

Despite his disappointing showings, he was handed a start in the Europa League final on Wednesday night, but once again showcased the need for a new talisman during the summer.

Hojlund only registered a tally of 15 touches during his 71-minute display, unable to provide the focal point or threat that was required to claim European glory.

It’s no secret that Amorim has had to stick with the former Atalanta star during the early months of his tenure, certainly wanting to recruit his own players during the upcoming window.

Games played

31

Goals scored

4

Shots taken

1.4

Successful passes per 90

11.2

Dribble success

30%

Times dispossessed

1.6

Aerials won

23%

Whilst the hierarchy would likely lose a huge chunk of their investment, it’s vital that he’s offloading in the coming months, along with Garnacho, to hand the manager the funds he needs for change.

It’s a shame that the move has been unsuccessful, with the board needing to remember such a signing in the near future as they attempt to land the clinical goalscorer they crave.

He'd send Hojlund packing: Man Utd in talks for dream Gyokeres alternative

Manchester United are making moves to land a new striker who’d end Rasmus Hojlund’s time at Old Trafford.

ByEthan Lamb May 23, 2025

Crystal Palace have now made an enquiry to sign a 28-year-old on a free transfer ahead of rival interest from fellow Londoners Fulham, according to a recent report.

Palace shop for Glasner replacements just in case

Given how the season started for the Eagles and how it could end, it has been quite a turnaround for Oliver Glasner and Palace, as they remain in the hunt for a top-half Premier League finish and could win England’s oldest competition this month.

Sky Sports: Crystal Palace now want 4-2-3-1 manager should Glasner leave

Steve Parish has his eye on a new managerial target if Glasner departs Selhurst Park.

ByBrett Worthington May 6, 2025

Reaching the FA Cup final and guiding the club away from relegation trouble likely means that Palace chiefs are going to want to extend Glasner’s stay at Selhurst Park. However, the links of a potential move away at the end of the season are not going away. In the last couple of months, Glasner was linked with a move to RB Leipzig and it’s now being claimed that he is the number one choice for the Bundesliga side.

As well as RB Leipzig, Tottenham Hotspur are also interested in appointing Glasner as their new manager should Ange Postecoglou be sacked at the end of the campaign.

These links have made Palace put their own ducks in a row, and according to Sky Sports German reporter Philipp Hinze, Palace are interested in appointing Danny Rohl as their new manager should Glasner depart. However, they are not the only teams chasing the German, as Leicester City and Southampton are also keen on the Sheffield Wednesday boss.

Crystal Palace make enquiry to sign 28 y/o on free transfer

But while the future of Glasner remains up in the air, Palace chiefs are looking ahead to the summer and already have their eye on one player they would like to bring to Selhurst Park. According to TEAMtalk, Crystal Palace are now considering signing midfielder Yvan Neyou on a free transfer.

The report states that Palace are among the clubs who have joined the race to sign Neyou, who is set to leave Spanish side Leganes when his contract expires. It is claimed that La Liga side Valencia are leading the race to sign the 28-year-old, but his performances for a struggling side have alerted the attention of Palace as well as Fulham.

The Eagles have now made an enquiry to understand if Neyou would be interested in a move to Selhurst Park, but have yet to make an offer. Neyou’s consistent form, defensively and offensively, in a side that is struggling at the foot of the table has plenty of appeal to clubs operating on a smaller budget.

Apps

28

Starts

25

Goals

1

Assists

1

Touches per game

49.0

Key passes per game

0.4

Passes per game (accuracy)

31.3 (87%)

Interceptions per game

0.9

Tackles per game

1.9

Balls recovered per game

4.0

Palace are of course wary of the interest in Eberechi Eze and Adam Wharton – winning the FA Cup and gaining access to European football could be required to ensure Neyou joins the duo at Selhurst Park instead of replacing them.

Chelsea are in pursuit of more signings after Liam Delap as we fast approach the Club World Cup, with BlueCo now running out of time to register new players before that potentially lucrative tournament begins.

Chelsea eye left-winger after Jadon Sancho return to Man United

Following the £30 million deal which sees Delap swap Portman Road for Stamford Bridge, Enzo Maresca and co have shown absolutely zero sign of slowing down in the transfer market.

Chelsea propose "multi-player package deal" in talks for £85m forward

The Blues have held discussions.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 6, 2025

Instead, the Blues have continued to press on for other targets with serious gusto, holding talks with AC Milan over a move for goalkeeper Mike Maignan and reportedly chasing Ajax defender Jorrel Hato.

Maignan has apparently told Milan he wants to join Chelsea, as per Sky Sports and other reliable media sources, while journalist Simon Phillips reports that Hato is equally keen to join Maresca’s side and personal terms shouldn’t be an issue.

Ipswich Town 2-0 Chelsea

8.08

Bournemouth 1-2 Ipswich Town

8.05

Ipswich Town 2-2 Aston Villa

8.04

Ipswich Town 1-2 Southampton

7.83

Fulham 2-2 Ipswich Town

7.55

via WhoScored

If either man is to be registered before the CWC kicks off, Chelsea will need to hurry, as they now have just three days to get them on the books at Cobham.

BlueCo are also believed to be targeting a new left-winger, especially after they couldn’t agree terms with Jadon Sancho on a permanent stay in west London. The £300,000-per-week forward is returning to Man United, and Chelsea will pay a £5 million penalty fee to dodge his obligation to buy.

Sancho’s exit, combined with Mykhailo Mudryk’s on-field ban after his failed drugs test, has exacerbated Maresca’s need for another wide option – and they have plenty of options on their shortlist.

Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens and Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams sit chief among them, according to reports this week, but they’ve been offered plenty of alternatives.

Chelsea offered Bayern Munich duo Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman

As per intriguing information from SPTC, Bayern Munich duo Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman have actually been put forward to them.

On a combined £581,000-per-week in Bavaria, Gnabry and Coman, despite their past performances, appear to have fallen down Vincent Kompany’s pecking order and are not in the Belgian’s long-term plans.

It is believed both Gnabry and Coman were offered out to Chelsea, as representatives of the pair seek potential new clubs, but Maresca’s side decided not to move forward with a deal for either.

“Obviously it looks like we have since decided to push more on Jamie Gittens than any others,” wrote reporter Phillips.

“Rafa Leao was also mentioned earlier in the Spring but nothing has moved on that.

“And we’ve also heard that Bayern Munich have offered both Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry around to many clubs, including Chelsea. Leroy Sané has also been spoken about at Chelsea due to him becoming a free agent this summer. However, our sources don’t expect us to move on any of those three.

“Chelsea are looking to bring a new left-winger as well as a hybrid attacking midfielder who can play a number of positions. Xavi Simons is a name that was mentioned to me by a good source again today, and obviously there is the noise on Mohammed Kudus now as well as Chelsea’s serious interest in Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze.”

There will be plenty of change at Ibrox this summer after Glasgow Rangers confirmed that several players will be moving on from the club ahead of next season.

A new head coach will also be in the dugout when the 2025/26 campaign gets underway, as the Light Blues have confirmed that Barry Ferguson will not be getting the job on a full-time basis after his interim spell.

As well as the Scottish interim boss, Rangers have revealed that three first-team players will be leaving Glasgow as free agents at the end of this month.

The Rangers players being released this summer

Rangers have announced that Tom Lawrence, Leon Balogun, and Ianis Hagi will not have their contracts renewed, making them free agents ahead of the summer transfer window.

They are three experienced operators who will be moving on from Ibrox, and two of them – Balogun and Hagi – were part of the 2020/21 title-winning campaign under Steven Gerrard.

Hagi, in particular, played a big role on the pitch this season with four goals and five assists in 24 appearances in the Scottish Premiership after coming in from the cold.

These three stars are not the only experienced players who should be ruthlessly ditched by the 49ers, once the takeover is completed, and Kevin Thelwell this summer, however, as Robin Propper should also be on the chopping block.

Why Robin Propper should be sold this summer

The Gers swooped to sign the Dutch defender from FC Twente to bolster their backline in the summer transfer window last year after Connor Goldson moved on from Ibrox.

Unfortunately, the 31-year-old centre-back does not seem particularly suited to the physical nature of the Scottish Premiership, as opposition forwards have found it too easy against him at times.

Rangers only conceded nine goals in the 11 matches that he did not feature in and 32 in the 27 that he did play, which suggests that they were better defensively without him.

Appearances

30

27

Goals conceded

22

32

Dribbled past per game

0.2x

0.4x

Ground duel success rate

73%

62%

Aerial duel success rate

67%

64%

Fouls per game

0.7

0.9

As you can see in the table above, the Light Blues made their team worse by replacing Goldson with Propper, who has failed to offer more quality in the centre-back position, as shown by the stark contrast in goals conceded.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Back in December, pundit Neil McCann outlined how concerning Propper’s performances were in the Premiership. He said: “Propper is struggling. He’s been pretty vocal over the last couple of weeks that he’s finding it tough in our league. He’s been asked the question early on. It’s quite worrying when you see him struggling as bad as that. Look at the body language – he’s looking for a way out already.”

This is why the 49ers must ruthlessly axe the central defender from the squad in the summer transfer window, if there are any clubs interested in snapping him up, because he has not adjusted well to Scottish football.

Whilst he is not the only player in the defence, it is worrying that there has been a huge drop off in defensive form since he was signed to replace Goldson, and that the team has a better defensive record without Propper in the side.

Therefore, Rangers must move on from Propper in the summer transfer window after they have already made the ruthless decisions to release Balogun, Hagi, and Lawrence.

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Manchester City are looking ahead to another season of Champions League football next campaign and could now aim to beat rivals Manchester United to a talented midfield addition, according to a report.

Man City looking to challenge for Premier League title in 25/26

Pep Guardiola will be more aware than anyone that his side need to improve on what ended as a trophyless season just gone. However, they will have a chance to bounce back swiftly at the Club World Cup next month.

Chelsea and Manchester City provide Premier League representation at the United States-based tournament, which could carry a bounty worth nearly £100 million for the competition winners.

Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has promised an aggressive recruitment drive will be underway at the Etihad Stadium following a first campaign without silverware since 2017, serving as a warning to top-flight competitors.

He stated: “It’s a lot of lessons learned. I can assure you, this club will do everything possible to come back to the standards that we know we all can achieve.”

Talks have been held over a deal that could see Wolverhampton Wanderers left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri move to Manchester City, with the Algeria international high on their left-back shortlist heading into the window.

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In addition, AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders could be a Citizen before the Club World Cup, indicating the priority is to bring through a swift stream of arrivals to replace outgoing figures such as Kevin De Bruyne before the competition begins.

Now, Manchester City have set their sights on beating Manchester United to another operator in the engine room as they aim to go from strength to strength.

Man City making £42m offer to sign Atalanta midfielder Ederson

According to reports in Italy via Sport Witness, Manchester City are offering around £42 million for Atalanta midfielder Ederson, and he is said to be at the top of Guardiola’s summer shortlist.

Hugo Viana has been assigned the specific task of bringing the Brazil international to the Etihad Stadium, while the Serie A outfit have reportedly lined up Celtic’s Arne Engels as a replacement should a deal go through.

Ederson in 2024/25 – all competitions

Appearances

49

Goals

5

Assists

2

Manchester United have been in the race to sign Ederson and have made contact over a swoop for the midfielder, who has also been linked with reigning Premier League champions Liverpool in recent weeks.

Labelled “powerful” by Tiago Nunes, the 24-year-old won 161 tackles over the course of the campaign on league duty, lending credence to his reputation as a dogged operator in the engine room.

With Rodri back and Mateo Kovacic also capable of playing in a holding role, it remains to be seen where Ederson would fit in at Manchester City if a deal were to come to fruition in the summer window, but it looks as if it will be one to watch.

Leeds United are now “one to watch” in the race for an “outstanding” Premier League midfielder, according to reporter Ben Jacobs.

Leeds need rebuild to avoid the drop next season

Ex-goalkeeper Paul Robinson has made it clear his former club will need to overhaul their squad this summer if they are to avoid an instant return to the Championship next season, saying: “Leeds are going to have to replace players.

“They came out of the Premier League with a similar squad, and players in that squad weren’t good enough. To mention two: Brenden Aaronson and Junior Firpo weren’t good enough for the Premier League.”

Firpo could now be heading for the exit door, with Kostas Tsimikas being identified as a potential replacement for the left-back, while the Whites are also looking at upgrades on Aaronson in attacking midfield, with Aston Villa’s Emiliano Buendia of interest.

Not only is Daniel Farke keen to bring in a new playmaker, the manager is also keen to strengthen in defensive midfield, as revealed by Jacobs in an interview with GiveMeSport, with the reporter stating Tottenham Hotspur’s Yves Bissouma is now a target.

It is unclear what sort of fee Tottenham would be looking to receive for Bissouma, who they signed from Brighton & Hove Albion for £25m back in 2022, but he has been on the north Londoners’ discard list for quite some time, indicating that a deal could be possible.

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The 28-year-old has fallen down the pecking order under Ange Postecoglou, often appearing as a substitute in the latter stages of the season, but his previous exploits in the Premier League indicate that he could be a solid signing for Leeds.

During his time with Brighton & Hove Albion, the Malian was lauded as “outstanding” by Statman Dave, and he has continued to impress defensively in more recent times, with the tough-tackling midfielder outperforming his positional peers across some key metrics over the past year.

Bissouma – last 365 days

Average per 90

Tackles

3.09 (91st percentile)

Interceptions

1.39 (83rd percentile)

Clearances

2.65 (92nd percentile)

Ahead of his side’s return to the Premier League, it may also be wise for Farke to bring in players who are proven in the top flight over a sustained period of time, and the Ivory Coast-born midfielder certainly ticks that box, having made 191 Premier League appearances.

It remains to be seen whether Bissouma would be willing to move to a newly-promoted side, fresh off the back of winning the Europa League with Spurs, but the prospect of receiving more game time could be appealing to the central midfielder.

Liverpool fans have been treated to an incredible year under the wing of Arne Slot, and it’s only going to get better, with FSG making serious moves in the overtures of the summer transfer window.

A deal for Jeremie Frimpong is being finalised, and the Bayer Leverkusen right-sider will join as Trent Alexander-Arnold’s ostensible replacement.

But it’s another of a Werkself persuasion who is slated to be the true heir to Trent’s playmaking position. Indeed, in a saga moving faster than Mohamed Salah in his heyday, Liverpool are now clear favourites to sign Florian Wirtz, who has rejected Bayern Munich in favour of a move to Anfield this summer.

With Manchester City previously withdrawing from consideration (perhaps because they knew he favoured Merseyside?), everything is in place for sporting director Richard Hughes to finalise a deal.

It would be a record signing for Liverpool, but it’s one which makes a whole lot of sense.

Why Liverpool need Florian Wirtz

A deal for Wirtz is almost done, as per transfer guru Fabrizio Romano. Liverpool won the Premier League this season, but they aren’t resting on their laurels.

Though Slot’s system still needs a reliable and out-and-out striker, this is a stunning coup that signals a statement of intent. Bayern and Man City both wanted Wirtz, but he chose Anfield.

And what a player. As per FBref, the 22-year-old ranks among the top 6% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues this season for goal contributions, the top 7% for shot-creating actions and progressive passes and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90.

His ability to manipulate space and wrongfoot opponents is second to none; moreover, Wirtz is remarkably switched on, always making the right call and demonstrating precision through his creativity and his ball-striking ability.

This season alone, Wirtz has scored 16 goals and provided 15 assists across all competitions for Leverkusen. Last term, he spearheaded an invincible Bundesliga triumph, earning the division’s Player of the Season award; he won the DFB-Pokal too.

He’s the real deal, all right, having been hailed as a “generational talent” by sports media professional Cristian Nyari. And Liverpool might even be gearing up to partner him with a thriving centre-forward.

Liverpool considering move for LaLiga star

As per Spanish sources, Liverpool are battling Bayern Munich for yet another high-profile signing, with the two powerhouses joining Arsenal in a bid to sign Julian Alvarez.

The Argentina star has been immense since joining Atletico Madrid last summer, and while the La Liga giants don’t want to sell, they would be tempted by offers reaching toward the €100m (£85m) mark.

It’s too early to say which direction this story will take in the coming weeks, but Liverpool bosses may feel they have a trump card in Darwin Nunez, a striker they hope to offload this summer and a player who has been reported to be on Los Colchoneros’ radar.

The report claims that the Reds are one of the clubs considering a move to sign the World Cup-winning marksman, and that they would be interested in including Nunez as part of a deal for the striker.

What Julian Alvarez would bring to Liverpool

Liverpool supporters know Alvarez well, for he won a shedload of silverware across two seasons with Manchester City before leaving for Atletico Madrid in a whopping £82m deal last summer.

That figure raised a few eyebrows, but Diego Simeone will certainly feel he has received bang for his buck after the Argentine’s prolific season, surpassing any of his individual success at the Etihad Stadium.

Alvarez’s fine-tuned clinical edge could actually see him leap over Wirtz as Liverpool’s most important signing of the summer, especially when considering the issues the club have been beset with at number nine this term, Nunez and Diogo Jota’s troubles leading Luis Diaz into a makeshift centre-forward role.

Julian Alvarez – Career Stats by Club/Nation
Club/nation	Apps	Goals	Assists
River Plate	122	54	31
Manchester City	103	36	19
Atletico Madrid	53	29	6
Argentina	44	12	33
Data via Transfermarkt

Refocused into more of a goalscoring force than his times in England, Alvarez has been described as “the best forward in the world” this season by journalist Roy Nemer, having indeed reached the verge of the 30-goal mark in his first year in Spain.

Alvarez might be a prolific player, but that’s not why Liverpool have a vested interest, of course. As per FBref, the 5 foot 8 striker ranks among the top 6% of positional peers across Europe this season for passes attempted and shot-creating actions, the top 7% for progressive passes, and the top 8% for progressive carries per 90.

This completeness and dynamism suggest Alvarez would be the perfect addition to Slot’s ranks, the perfect upgrade at number nine. He’s considered by FBref’s data-driven analytics to be a comparable player to Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, and would be far cheaper at that.

Securing the 25-year-old’s signature alongside Wirtz’s would represent a staggering coup for Liverpool, but given the need for a new striker, he would indeed prove the standout, not just a new goalscorer but a multi-faceted force to be reckoned with.

Alvarez has scored 17 goals in La Liga this season, and he has only missed seven big chances, as per Sofascore, bespeaking his newfound skill as an elite marksman.

Wirtz is going to be a stunning acquisition, for sure, but Liverpool are already relatively well stocked in their attacking midfield area, whereas up front there is a gaping hole for a reliable marksman.

If FSG manage to pull this one off after swiping Germany’s prized playmaker from the Bundesliga, beating Bayern to the finish line on both occasions, it speaks highly of Michael Edwards’ vision and Liverpool’s potential over the coming years.

Fans have rejoiced over the triumph in the Premier League this season, but you might say that success has merely scratched the surface of what this team is capable of.

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This summer simply has to be a seismic one for Tottenham Hotspur.

Ange Postecoglou and his squad turned what could have been an utterly disastrous campaign into an iconic one with their Europa League triumph in Bilbao last week, and now it’s Daniel Levy and Co’s turn to deliver.

With Champions League football secured, the Lilywhites board should be able to push the boat out that bit more in the transfer window and bring in the right stars to ensure their Premier League campaign next year can be just as memorable as their European one this year.

Fortunately, that seems to be happening, as recent reports have linked the North Londoners with one of the most exciting players on the continent and someone who could send Son Heung-min packing.

Tottenham transfer news

Before getting to the young superstar in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other impressive players who have been linked with Spurs in recent weeks and months, such as Marc Guehi and Leroy Sané.

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The former could cost up to £50m, and while that is a lot of money, he’d bring plenty of experience at the domestic and international level while also potentially being the perfect replacement for Cristian Romero should the World Cup finally move on this summer.

Sané, on the other hand, would be completely free thanks to his contract expiring in June, and while he’s nearer to the end than the start of his career, he’d undoubtedly add something to the Lilywhites attack, as in just 45 games this season he has scored 13 goals and provided six assists.

However, another more exciting major target for Tottenham has now entered the picture: Xavi Simons.

According to a recent report from ESPN, Spurs are interested in the RB Leipzig star, although they are certainly not the only ones.

Other stories from earlier this month have also credited the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United with an interest in the Flying Dutchman, who could cost around £67m.

It could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Simons’ incredible ability and potential, it’s one well worth fighting for, especially as he could be the perfect Son upgrade.

How Simons compares to Son

So, the first thing to say is that one of Simons’ biggest strengths is that he can play off the right or in attacking midfield with relative ease, but considering Brennan Johnson has been in fine form in the former and James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski occupy the latter, it seems likely that he’d come in as a left-wing option.

Therefore, one of his primary competitors for game time, and the man he’d ideally be the long-term heir to, is Son, so who comes out on top when we compare them?

Well, when it comes to their raw output, it’s the former Pairs Saint-Germain gem, with 11 goals and eight assists in just 33 first-team appearances, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.73 games.

Simons vs Son in 24/25
Player	Simons	Son
Appearances	33	46
Goals	11	11
Assists	8	12
Goal Involvements per Match	0.57	0.50
All Stats via Transfermarkt

In contrast, the former Bayer Leverkusen star has scored 11 goals and provided 12 assists in 46 appearances for the North Londoners this season, which comes out to a goal involvement every other game.

Okay, what about their underlying numbers from this year? Which winger comes out on top when we take a look under the hood?

Unfortunately for the Chuncheon-born icon, this is another battle he loses, as in most relevant metrics, bar a few here and there, the 22-year-old “game-changing signing,” as dubbed by respected analyst Ben Mattinson, comes out comfortably ahead.

These metrics include, but are not limited to, non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes, goals per shot and shot on target, passes into the final third and penalty area, expected assists, tackles won, interceptions, blocks, clearances, successful take-ons, aerial duels won and more, all per 90.

Simons vs Son
Statistics per 90	Simons	Son
Non-Penalty Goals + Assists	0.67	0.64
Progressive Passes	5.86	4.74
Progressive Carries	3.56	4.10
Shots	2.09	2.35
Shots on Target	0.96	1.02
Goals per Shot	0.20	0.11
Goals per Shot on Target	0.43	0.25
Passing Accuracy	78.6%	78.9%
Expected Assists	0.25	0.22
Passes into the Penalty Area	2.51	2.18
Passes into the Final Third	3.31	1.75
Live Passes	44.4	36.5
Shot-Creating Actions	4.52	4.99
Tackles	1.17	0.73
Tackles Won	0.88	0.38
Blocks	0.79	0.47
Interceptions	0.50	0.21
Clearances	0.79	0.73
Successful Take-Ons	1.38	1.24
Ball Recoveries	5.36	3.63
Aerial Duels Won	0.79	0.26
All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 Season

Finally, the Amsterdam-born “superstar,” as dubbed by Mattinson, is a decade younger than the captain, so there is every chance that he’ll continue to get better and better in the coming campaigns, which is a scary thought indeed.

Ultimately, Son has been an incredible player for Spurs over the years, but Simons looks to be better than him in practically every way, so Levy and Co should be doing all they can to sign him this summer.

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