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Real Madrid turned in a complete performance against a poor Valencia side, with Kylian Mbappe grabbing two and Jude Bellingham finding form in Saturday's 4-0 romp at Santiago Bernabeu. Los Blancos did most of their damage in the first half, and were able to overcome a missed penalty from Vinicius Jr to seal a comfortable win.

Madrid were in control from the first minute, and peppered the Valencia goal often. Vinicius came close in the opening exchanges, cutting onto his left before forcing a tidy save while Bellingham saw a similar effort be kept out soon after.

Instead, a bit of luck gave Los Blancos the lead, as they were handed a soft penalty after a Valencia defender was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box and Mbappe converted it with one swift stroke. The second didn't require any fortune; Mbappe scored it, capping off a fine flowing move with a simple tap-in, thanks to a delightful set up from Arda Guler. Bellingham then made it three shortly before half-time, putting an exclamation mark on a wonderful performance with a curled effort from outside the box. 

Vinicius endured a more difficult evening as things wore on. Mbappe handed the Brazilian a spot-kick, but he fired right at the 'keeper, and everything from there felt slightly rushed before Vinicius was replaced with 15 minutes to go. Not that it mattered to the rest of the Madrid team, though, and Alvaro Carreras added an audacious fourth late on, smashing into the top corner from the edge of the box to cap off a commanding Madrid win. Next stop, Anfield in the Champions League. 

GOAL rates Real Madrid's players from the Bernabeu…

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Thibaut Courtois (7/10):

  Didn't really have a save to make. Nice to get himself a clean sheet. 

  Federico Valverde (7/10):

  Made one wonderful recovery challenge, had a couple of looks on goal. Much improved after a rough start to the season. 

  Eder Militao (7/10):

  A solid shift at the back. Will be happy to have had a quieter evening. 

  Dean Huijsen (7/10):

  Won his headers, strong in his tackles, subbed after 70 minutes after a tidy night. 

  Alvaro Carreras (8/10):

  Opened his Madrid goal account with a lovely strike. Kept things tidy defensively. 

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• Getty
  

  Midfield

  Aurelien Tchouameni (6/10):

  A middling showing. Won his tackles, got booked, hooked at half-time.

  Arda Guler (8/10):

  Created a couple of chances and grabbed himself an assist. A solid 45 minutes. 

  Jude Bellingham (8/10):

  Looks like somewhere nearing his best. Scored a great goal, ran the midfield, and was much more decisive on the ball.

• Getty
  

  Attack

  Franco Mastantuono (6/10):

  Full of turns and tricks, but seldom entirely convincing. Tried to overplay a bit, and made the wrong decision here and there. 

  Kylian Mbappe (8/10):

  Inevitable from the first minute. Comfortable from the spot to open things, tidy from close range for his second. Generously forwent a hat-trick opportunity to give Vinicius a go.

  Vinicius Jr (7/10):

  Really impactful and dangerous on the ball in the first half – even if he was a little lacking in his finishing. Put his penalty right at the 'keeper, and seemed to get frustrated after. 

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Subs & Manager

  Dani Ceballos (7/10):

  Kept things ticking over in midfield after the break. 

  Eduardo Camavinga (7/10):

  Made a couple of nice interventions, offered some bite in midfield. 

  Raul Asencio (7/10):

  Extra legs at the back – and effective ones at that. 

  Endrick (N/A):

  Immensely surprising to see him out there for the first time all season. 

  Rodrygo (N/A):

  No time to make an impact. 

  Xabi Alonso (8/10):

  His second-best night in the job yet. Madrid scored four and looked in total control. Washed down the Clasico in fine fashion – attention now turns to Liverpool. 

Arsenal have just as many outgoings to sort out as new signings potentially coming through the door, with Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta revamping almost the entire squad ahead of a crucial 2025/2026 campaign.

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The biggest name who appears poised to leave N5 very soon is star midfielder Thomas Partey.

The Ghanaian re-established himself as a firm favourite under Arteta last season, putting his previous injury woes behind him and making over 50 appearances in all competitions.

Partey starred in both midfield and as an emergency right-back, which proved pivotal for the Gunners as they reached the Champions League semi-finals, despite coping with the various absences of key players due to fitness issues.

His renewed form even prompted the club to open talks over an extension for the £200,000-per-week star, but according to recent reports, negotiations have hit a standstill, and it is growing increasingly likely that Partey could leave when his contract expires at the end of this month (The Athletic).

While Arsenal assess alternatives to Partey, with Sevilla’s midfield sensation Lucien Agoume repeatedly linked in the last week, the 32-year-old isn’t Arteta’s only potential next departure – following the confirmed exits of Kieran Tierney, Jorginho, Raheem Sterling and Neto.

Left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko has seemingly been deemed surplus to requirements by Arsenal’s manager after his limited appearances last season, and AC Milan are showing a very keen interest in the Ukraine international.

Oleksandr Zinchenko keen on joining AC Milan after talks

Zinchenko has reportedly held “positive” talks over a move to Atletico Madrid, but Milan are also believed to be firm contenders for the £150,000-per-week ace.

As per Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport, Milan’s sporting director, Igli Tare, recently held talks with Zinchenko’s representatives, and the 28-year-old is becoming increasingly open to a San Siro move.

This comes as Milan look to sign an heir for Theo Hernandez, who could soon be joining Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, with Zinchenko seen as an immediate potential replacement for the Frenchman.

His high wages are the main obstacle standing between Zinchenko and a potential move to Milan, but Arsenal are apparently ready to sell the player for around £17 million, which is feasible for the Rossoneri.

Despite falling down Arteta’s pecking order in the last 12 months, Zinchenko has been a wonderful servant to Arsenal overall, and the ex-Man City defender could still have plenty to offer abroad.

“He moves out of his position and gets into little pockets to try and make things happen and this is quite incredible. You can tell that he’s played under Pep Guardiola because he plays in a similar way,” said former Arsenal defender Armand Traore to talkSPORT in 2023.

“For Arsenal, he’s been great. The second choice left-back is Kieran Tierney [and] he’s a great left-back, but at the moment he can’t get much of a game because of how great Zinchenko has been.

“He’s also great for the mentality of the whole squad because he’s won titles. I think he’s come in and been absolutely fantastic. I’m really impressed with him. He’s almost like the cherry on top [of the cake].”

An “unbelievable” Liverpool player is reportedly in talks over a move to a top Saudi Pro League club, amid rumours of Bernardo Silva’s transfer there collapsing.

Man City plan to recapture title from Liverpool

The Reds managed to wrestle the Premier League title away from Manchester City in 2024/25, ending their spell of dominance in the competition. It looks as though Pep Guardiola’s side will be back stronger next term, however, not only because of Rodri being fit again, but also due to some top-quality signings.

Guardiola himself has been coy about his team’s chances of challenging Liverpool again, but it could also be construed as mind games from the Spaniard.

“We are miles away from Liverpool. That is the reality. I have a feeling next season will be better but I don’t know how we will react after the Club World Cup. We will be exhausted without a holiday before next season. We have to rise and increase our level otherwise we will not compete to fight for the titles. But if we are fit, we will try and we will be closer.”

City look to be bringing in the likes of Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki, from Wolves, AC Milan and Lyon respectively, with Liverpool’s rivals meaning serious business, snapping up talented young players and moving on some of their older stars.

Kevin De Bruyne has departed after a legendary spell at the Etihad, and there has also been talk of Silva sealing a move to Saudi side Al-Hilal, having been offered a £500,000-a-week deal in the Middle East before. The likes of Ederson, Kyle Walker, and Jack Grealish may not have futures in the northwest, either.

"Unbelievable" Liverpool ace in talks over exit

According to Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna, Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez’s representatives are now in talks with Al-Hilal, with Bernardo’s move there about to fall through.

Nunez has been a popular figure among Liverpool fans during his time at the club, with Ally McCoist quick to praise his assist to Harvey Elliott away to Paris Saint-Germain last season.

“Unbelievable football from Darwin Nunez, because nine times out of ten he hits this. He doesn’t, he takes the right option. Watch Nunez, usually he pulls the trigger there, it looks a simple pass and it is but it’s there to hit first time, that’s the secret of it.”

Despite this, an upgrade on Nunez has to be found by Liverpool this summer, with a stunning move for Newcastle United star Alexander Isak even mooted. The Uruguayan’s finishing leaves a lot to be desired, as does his general football intelligence.

With Milos Kerkez and Florian Wirtz looking likely to join Jeremie Frimpong at Anfield, signing an elite No.9 would make it the perfect summer window for the Reds.

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Ultimately, Nunez’s time at Liverpool has been disappointing, and if they can receive a hefty fee from Al-Hilal, they should take the money and run.

Everton have plenty of work to do in the transfer window and could now swoop for an experienced defender who enjoys a pre-existing relationship with David Moyes, according to a report.

Everton confirm exits to pave way for incomings

Making their gratitude known, Everton have confirmed six senior players have left the club upon the expiry of their contracts – Abdoulaye Doucoure, Ashley Young, Joao Virginia, Asmir Begovic, Mason Holgate and Neal Maupay.

Releasing a short statement on their departures, the club noted: “Everyone at Everton thanks the departing players for their commitment and service and wishes them all the best for the future.”

Dominic Calvert Lewin’s future at Everton remains uncertain as the Toffees continue to liaise on new deals for the England striker and Michael Keane.

Expert Keith Wyness has claimed that the former’s offer of a new contract is bonus-related, which has led to a feeling of dissatisfaction and could spell the end to his spell on Merseyside.

Should he leave, Everton have identified Galatasaray’s Baris Alper Yilmaz as a potential replacement to strengthen their forward line. Youssef Chermiti and Beto remain as striking options after Armando Broja’s loan deal concluded.

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The Toffees mean business.

1

By
Tom Cunningham

Jun 11, 2025

Defensively, Kyle Walker-Peters is a free transfer target for the Toffees following his exploits in the Premier League with Southampton last term, illustrating that a wealth of financial muscle isn’t necessary to attract quality reinforcements.

The Friedkin Group definitely have money to spend at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, but there is an acknowledgement that they will need to be careful to adhere to PSR requirements.

Inexpensive deals in some areas may be a necessity in the infancy of their reign, so it won’t come as a surprise to hear that another free agent is being lined up to bolster Moyes’ backline.

Everton line up move for Vladimir Coufal

According to Football Insider, Everton are eyeing a free transfer move for Vladimir Coufal after his successful spell at West Ham United came to an end.

Fulham, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Leeds United, Burnley and Sunderland are also keen on the Czechia international, who Moyes is keen to reunite with following his five years at the London Stadium.

In what turned out to be a disappointing season for the Hammers, Coufal made 25 appearances across all competitions and still has more to give in the English top-flight at 32 years of age.

Jake O’Brien has filled in on the right side of defence amid Everton’s transition to a back three at times under Moyes, though it would make sense to recruit a reliable operator amid veteran right-back Young’s departure.

Competition is high for his signature. Still, Coufal and Moyes have already enjoyed success together, so there is no reason to suspect that the Scot couldn’t get the best out of the Ostrava-born man at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Newcastle United are believed to have turned their attention to signing a “world-class” attacking player after missing out on Bryan Mbeumo.

Newcastle suffer Mbeumo transfer blow

Mbeumo has been one of the Magpies’ leading transfer targets in recent months, with the Brentford forward considered arguably the strongest option to upgrade the right-sided attacking role.

Unfortunately, it now looks like the Cameroonian is on his way to Manchester United this summer, with the reliable David Ornstein revealing the news on Monday evening.

It is a significant setback for Eddie Howe, with Mbeumo enjoying a fantastic season for Brentford, scoring 20 goals in the Premier League and standing out as one of the best attacking players in the division.

It’s now time for Newcastle to find an alternative option to the winger and a new update suggests they are targeting a world-renowned player who looks set to be available ahead of next season.

Newcastle turn attention to Champions League winner

According to journalist Christian Falk on his website, cfbayerninsider.com, Newcastle are “interested” in signing Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman.

Barcelona are also keen on snapping up the former Paris Saint-Germain wide man, and “could move for him” if they fail to sign either Liverpool’s Luis Diaz or United’s Marcus Rashford this summer.

This comes after Fabrizio Romano took to X on Monday to claim that Coman will depart Bayern in the summer, having fallen out of favour at the Bundesliga champions.

Coman would be a signing of real intent by Newcastle, given his stature as an elite footballer, winning the Champions League in 2020 and scoring the only goal in the final victory over his old club PSG.

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Meanwhile, Germany legend Oliver Kahn has heaped praise on the Frenchman, saying: “I’m happy that King continuously developed in the past years. He’s absolutely world class and an attraction for the fans, one of the best players in the world technically in fast pace, one of the best dribblers and always a threat.”

Coman does admittedly turn 29 later this month, though, so there is a risk that Newcastle would be signing a slightly ageing player on big wages, meaning a younger alternative could be more sensible.

But if Howe believes the Bayern man is the best Mbeumo alternative, he needs to be trusted, having taken control of more transfer activity after the exit of sporting director Paul Mitchell.

Celtic were hit with a pretty devastating blow at the start of this month when it was confirmed that the knee injury sustained by Jota is going to keep him out for the best part of a year.

The Hoops winger hobbled off during the first half of the 5-0 win over Dundee United at Tannadice, a result that won the Scottish Premiership title, with a knee injury.

Brendan Rodgers then confirmed that the Portuguese forward could be out for up to nine months with a cruciate ligament injury, which means that the attacker is unlikely to be fit for the start of next season.

Based on that timeline, there is a real chance that Jota will not play for Celtic again in 2025, with a return in the first couple of months of 2026 currently being projected, and that could force the club’s hand in the summer transfer window.

The Scottish giants are set to be without a key wide attacker for a huge chunk of the 2025/26 campaign, which could result in them swooping for another winger in the coming months.

With this in mind, we have taken a look at three potential signings the Hoops could make to replace Jota until he returns from his long-term injury.

1

Tyrhys Dolan

Firstly, Blackburn Rovers dynamo Tyrhys Dolan is an intriguing option for the Scottish giants because he is set to be out of contract at the end of June, and would be available as a free agent.

Celtic are reportedly interested in a bargain swoop to sign the 23-year-old star from the English Championship side and it is easy to see why he has emerged as an attractive target for the club.

As well as potentially being a cost-effective signing due to his contract situation at Ewood Park, Dolan is also an ideal fit for Celtic from a footballing perspective, because he can comfortably play on the right wing, on the left wing, as a centre-forward, or as an attacking midfielder, with at least 26 appearances in his career in each position.

This means that Rodgers could use him on either flank, as he did with Jota when the winger was available, which makes him a like-for-like replacement for the former Rennes man in that sense.

As you can see in the table above, Dolan also showed signs of promise in a midtable Blackburn team in the Championship, delivering 14 goals and ‘big chances’ created combined in a team that did not finish inside the top six in the division.

The 23-year-old star has yet to prove that he can deliver goals and assists consistently, though, so there is still a question mark over whether or not his output would improve if he played in a better team.

2

Kwame Poku

Sticking with the lower leagues in England, Peterborough United winger Kwame Poku is another talented young prospect who has been linked with a move to Parkhead this summer.

The Hoops have reportedly sent scouts to watch the Ghana international in action this season, and he could be available for a compensation fee when his contract with the Posh expires this summer.

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Poku played in a lower division than Dolan, in League One, but did showcase his ability to deliver consistent quality in the final third as part of a team that was chasing promotion to the second tier.

The 24-year-old magician ended the season with a return of 12 goals, nine ‘big chances’ created, and eight assists in 27 matches in the league for Peterborough, whilst predominantly playing on the right flank.

Whilst he has shown promise as a winger who can deliver quality on a regular basis, Poku would not be a like-for-like replacement for Jota because he is a left-footed attacker who typically plays on the opposite flank.

This means that there could be better options out there to directly replace Jota, and one of those options could come from further afield, in Norway specifically.

3

Sondre Orjasaeter

Celtic reportedly had an offer turned down for Sarpsborg forward Sondre Orjasaeter in the January transfer window, as the Norwegian side were looking for a fee of £7m for the winger.

The 21-year-old star, once dubbed an “artist” by Havard Flo, could be the perfect replacement for Jota because of his age, his style of play, and his quality.

Whilst he is comfortably the most expensive player on this list, as the other two options are out of contract this summer, Orjasaeter could be worth the expense for the Scottish giants.

Stylistically, the Norwegian sensation would be an ideal fit for the Hoops because he is a right-footed attacker who predominantly plays on the left flank, just as Jota does.

As you can see in the table above, Orjasaeter has caught the eye with his performances for Sarpsborg in the Eliteserien since the start of the 2024 campaign, with six goals and 19 ‘big chances’ created in 35 appearances.

This shows that he has the ability to make a significant impact at the top end of the pitch, despite only being 21, from a left wing position, which is another reason why he could be an ideal signing to replace Jota this summer for Rodgers.

Orjasaeter, of course, is unproven in British football, unlike Dolan and Poku, and that is one thing that goes against him in this list, but the Hoops could gamble on his performances for Sarpsborg translating well to Scottish football, making him the dream signing to fill that left wing position.

It will now be interesting to see if Celtic go in for any of these three players, given that they are all reported to be of interest, or if they decide to look elsewhere to bolster their wide options.

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The transfer window is just around the corner, and it looks set to be a big one for Arsenal.

While Mikel Arteta’s side have had to contend with a torrent of injuries this year, it’s still become increasingly clear that they do not have the attacking options at their disposal to get over the line.

For example, the only player to reach double digits for goals and assists in the squad this year has been Bukayo Saka, who’s done so despite missing almost four months of action with a hamstring injury.

So, with this in mind, it’s hardly a surprise to see the North Londoners being linked to so many talented attackers in recent weeks, including one who has won the Premier League in the past and even been compared to Saka.

Arsenal's winger search

While the priority for Arsenal this summer will likely remain a new centre-forward, the club have still been linked with a plethora of talented wide players, such as Nico Williams and Rayan Cherki.

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The former has a release clause of £48m in his current deal, which doesn’t seem too steep considering he’s still just 22 years old and has managed to rack up a tally of 11 goals and seven assists in 44 games this year.

However, Cherki could be even cheaper, with some reports claiming he could be available for just £30m, which would be a steal, as in just 43 games this season, the young Frenchman has scored 12 goals and provided 19 assists.

Yet, if the club want to go all out on a superstar striker this summer, they might have to go for a genuine bargain on the wing, someone like Leroy Sané.

According to a recent report from Football Insider, Arsenal have maintained their interest in the Bayern Munich star, and, alongside Chelsea, are currently the frontrunners to secure his signature.

While the competition from the Blues is far from ideal, the good news is that the £245k-per-week star wouldn’t cost anything in transfer fees, thanks to his current deal expiring in the summer.

It might still be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but Arsenal should do what they can to bring Sané to the Emirates, as he would add some real quality to the attack, and he’s even won comparisons to Saka in the past.

How Sané compares to Saka

So, before we get into some of the other reasons Arsenal should be looking to sign Sané this summer, let’s examine this comparison to Saka and where it comes from.

Well, in this instance, it comes from FBref, which compared players in similar positions at last summer’s European Championships and concluded that the Englishman was the third most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the German in the entire competition.

We can better understand their similarities by looking at some of the underlying metrics in which they rank closely, including but not limited to expected assists, progressive passes, passing accuracy, shot and goal-creating actions and more, all per 90.

However, on top of their statistical similarities, they are also both predominantly right-sided, left-footed players who have played and thrived under Arteta’s coaching, with the German spending several years with him at City.

Aside from the similarities to their best player, though, why should the Gunners bring the Bayern star this summer?

Well, first and foremost, while he has spent plenty of time off the right, he’s just as capable on the left, meaning he could provide some genuine competition to both Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard next season on top of being able to rotate with others in the side.

Moreover, even though he’s closer to the end than the start of his career, the “world-class” international, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has still been seriously effective this term, racking up 13 goals and six assists in 44 appearances, totalling 2348 minutes.

That means the former Premier League winner is currently averaging a goal involvement every 2.31 games, or every 123.57 minutes, which is undoubtedly the sort of output that would give the North Londoners a serious boost.

Ultimately, Arsenal should be going all out to sign Sané this summer, as not only does he share some key similarities with Saka, but he remains a productive attacker and, best of all, he’d be free.

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With new sporting director Andrea Berta getting ruthless from the off, Arsenal are now reportedly ready to listen to offers for one particular player this summer amid interest from AC Milan.

Berta's summer plans at Arsenal

Heading into the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain with a 1-0 deficit to overturn, Arsenal’s season is in danger of ending without a trophy once again. Already, Liverpool have been confirmed Premier League champions in what was a dominant run and given that the Gunners failed to win the Carabao Cup and were knocked out of the FA Cup in the early stage, they could look back on the current campaign with one full of moments to forget.

Mikel Arteta, as ever, is still full of hope, however, albeit whilst admitting that Arsenal need something special to advance next week. The Spaniard told reporters after his side’s defeat against PSG: “We have a lot of chances to be in that final. As I repeat myself, you have to do something special in the competition to have the right to be in the final. And the time to do it is going to be in Paris.”

What failure could do ahead of the summer transfer window though, is push the Gunners into action. Their attacking flaws have been there for all to see this season and need addressing even with star players returning from injury.

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Names such as Alexander Isak have threatened to steal the headlines in recent months, but whether Berta has the blessing to pursue what could be a club-record signing remains to be seen. First, it looks as though the new sporting director is set to get ruthless on the sales front.

Arsenal ready to sell Calafiori

According to Milan Live, Berta and Arsenal are now ready to listen to offers for Riccardo Calafiori this summer just one year after he arrived from Bologna. The defender has had a torrid time with injuries since arriving, but has seemingly not done enough to keep hold of his place in North London even when fully fit. Now, amid interest from AC Milan and Juventus, Arsenal have reportedly set his price tag at €35m (£30m).

Missing 28 games in total, the defender has simply been unable to make his mark. To put into context just how much his luck has turned for the worse too, the Italian missed just two games during his time at Bologna.

That said, Calafiori’s injury struggles have not stood in the way of Arteta’s praise, with the Arsenal boss telling reporters earlier this season: “He came back, had a little glimpse, then went on international duty and got injured, so we had to manage him again. Then we threw him against Man City away for the first Premier League start and I think he was superb.

“He’s really good. He’s adapted really well to the group, his understanding is exceptional and you see he’s a player with an enormous courage and personality to play, so he’s going to give us a lot.”

Rangers supporters simply cannot wait for this season to end.

On Sunday, the Light Blues held their fierce rivals to a 1-1 draw at Ibrox, taking the lead through Cyriel Dessers on the cusp of half time, but ultimately thankful for an excellent save by Liam Kelly right at the death to preserve the point.

Nevertheless, it matters little considering the champions had rubber-stamped the title a week earlier, the gap between Glasgow’s giants remains 17 points, with Barry Ferguson’s side now without a win in four Premiership games.

The Light Blues are guaranteed to finish second, thereby entering next season’s Champions League in the second qualifying round, the first leg of which takes place on 22/23 July, with Brann, Austria Wien or familiar foes Servette currently forecast to be their possible opponents.

So, with a tight turnaround between this season ending and next season commencing, the new 49ers ownership are under pressure to appoint a new manager and fast, but are they close to doing just that?

The latest on Steven Gerrard's Rangers return

According to widespread reports, including from Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, Steven Gerrard is currently ‘the leading candidate’ to be re-hired as Rangers’ new manager.

Harri Burton of Football Insider has previously reported that Gerrard has impressed Paraag Marathe, who is spearheading 49ers Enterprises’ 51% takeover of Rangers, making him the obvious choice to be Ferguson’s successor.

The 44-year-old Englishman was previously in charge of Rangers for 192 matches between July 2018 and November 2021, before departing for Aston Villa, most-notably leading the club to a Premiership title, the club’s only top-division triumph since 2011.

So, while Ferguson will remain in charge for the final three matches of this season, against Aberdeen, Dundee United and then Hibs, all the current indications are that Gerrard will be returning to the Ibrox dugout in time for July’s Champions League tie.

The Liverpool legend will no doubt be looking to repeat the success he enjoyed during his prior stint at the helm…

Steven Gerrard's key men at Rangers

During Gerrard’s first Rangers tenure, few players were as important to him as Ryan Kent, with the table below outlining this point.

As the table outlines, only five players made more appearances under Gerrard than Kent, while only James Tavernier and Alfredo Morelos contributed more than his 60 goal-involvements.

Kent initially arrived on loan from Liverpool, before being signed permanently for a reported fee of £7.5m, the highest fee Rangers have paid in the modern era, only eclipsed by the £12m splashed to bring in Tore André Flo from Chelsea in 1997.

Fast-forward to the present day, is a current Rangers star on a similar trajectory?

Rangers' best attacker could be the new Ryan Kent

As noted by Alan Galindo of the Daily Record, it’s pretty difficult to dispute the fact that Václav Černý has been Rangers’ best attacker this season.

The table below underlines this assertion, with the loan star having been simply “devastating” at times, as per analyst John Walker.

Only Dessers has been directly involved in more Rangers goals this season than the Czechia international, while Černý was the club’s top scorer in the Europa League with six, a tally only bettered by Bruno Fernandes, Kasper Høgh and Ayoub El Kaab across the entire tournament.

Back in October, then-manager Philippe Clement described the Czech winger as “important for the club”, adding “I want to see more and more” from him.

As a result, Černý’s performances should offer some optimism for the Rangers support ahead of next season, the problem being the fact that he is only on loan.

Well, Mark Walker of the National has previously reported that Wolfsburg would be willing to sell Černý for £6.75m, which would be a huge outlay, similar to that paid to tie down Kent permanently six years ago.

Well, based on Černý’s output this season, Rangers should absolutely pay the money to sign him and, should they do so, as stated by Amy Canavan of BBC Sport, this would be quite the statement of intent by the new owners.

With Gerrard back at the helm also, the Englishman could find a new Kent-like attacking weapon to wield.

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Fulham are now keen on signing a full-back who has a tempting release clause, but there is set to be competition for his signature from West Ham United, according to Sky Sports Germany.

Cottagers stepping up summer transfer plans

The Cottagers are on course to record another solid finish in the Premier League, under the helm of Marco Silva, and they have picked up some very impressive results along the way, most notably defeating champions elect Liverpool 3-2 earlier this month.

The only thing that may prevent Silva’s side from qualifying for Europe is a lack of consistency, having dropped points against the likes of Ipswich Town and West Ham United, while the 1-0 loss at AFC Bournemouth last time out could also be costly.

As such, Silva may feel some new additions are needed this summer, and targets have been identified in a number of positions, recently reigniting the interest in AC Milan forward Samuel Chukwueze, who was on the verge of a move to Craven Cottage last winter.

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Panathinaikos striker Fotis Ioannadis has also been identified as a target, but there is a feeling the west Londoners could miss out, with Sporting CP also in the race for his signature.

Not only are Fulham looking to strengthen their attack, but they may also bring in a new left-back this summer, with a report from Sky Sports Germany revealing they have now joined the race for Werder Bremen defender Felix Agu.

The 25-year-old is being closely monitored by the Cottagers, having put in some impressive performances in the Bundesliga this season, but they are not the only English club in the picture.

West Ham are also keen on signing Agu, and the Premier League duo could be tempted by the appealing release clause of just €8m -€10m (£6.9m – £8.5m) included in his contract with the German club, which is set to expire at the end of May.

"Talented" Agu could excel in Premier League

There are clear signs the 25-year-old could now be ready to make the jump to the Premier League, having been lauded as “one of the best full-backs” in the Bundesliga by journalist Oma Akatugba last month.

The Werder Bremen star has made 17 appearances in the Bundesliga, displaying his attacking prowess by picking up three goals and one assist, and he ranks in the 94th percentile for non-penalty goals per 90 over the past year.

Silva already has a top-quality option at left-back in Antonee Robinson, but there has been speculation over the American’s future, and Agu’s ability on the front foot indicates he could be a like-for-like replacement.

Not only that, but the “talented” defender is also extremely versatile, having played at both left-back and right-back throughout his career, as well as further forward, so he could be a fantastic addition to the squad at just £6.9m – £8.5m, regardless of whether Robinson leaves.