Tottenham Hotspur are now believed to be in a good position to seal the astute capture of an “interesting” striker this summer, despite him attracting plenty of attention from elsewhere.

Tottenham play Liverpool as Postecoglou looks to avoid 19th Premier League defeat

Ange Postecoglou’s sacking at the end of the season is highly likely as things stand, according to reports, and it could occur regardless of what happens in their Europa League campaign (The Telegraph).

Tottenham talking about appointing "special" manager wanted by Real Madrid

Spurs decision-makers now want to show ambition.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 26, 2025

Spurs have tasted defeat a woeful 18 times in the Premier League this season, and a 19th loss against Liverpool today would equal the Lilywhites’ record for most defeats in a single campaign since the competition was formed in 1992.

Liverpool (away)

Today

West Ham (away)

May 3rd

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

Aston Villa (away)

May 18th

Brighton (home)

May 25th

Postecoglou’s side will come up against a side who could be crowned champions of England, so Tottenham will have to be at their very best to avoid a rout and bring confidence into their all-important Europa League semi-final clash against Bodo/Glimt.

“I think you want to do more than that,” said Postecoglou on whether Tottenham just want to come through Liverpool unscathed.

“You want to go there and compete against, obviously, a very good side, and compete well and its not just about getting through unscathed, you want to get through having played well against the top team. And I think irrespective of what’s on the horizon. That’s the primary importance.

“They have been brilliant in the league this year. They have been really consistent, maintained a really high level. They have had the best players playing all the time and playing at a really high level. That is a credit to Arne, his coaching staff and the players themselves. They have been close in the last few years and the fact they are on the cusp of potentially winning another title is a credit to everyone involved.

“In the cup game first leg, I thought we were really good, we took the game to them even though again we had quite a few absences and. worked really hard to get a win in that game, so we know it’s going to be tough at the weekend, but at the same time I think it’s a great challenge for us.”

Tottenham "well-placed" to sign Feyenoord striker Zepiqueno Redmond

Away from their tough trip to Anfield, news has come to light of the club’s transfer activity ahead of this summer.

According to journalist Pete O’Rourke, writing for Football Insider, Tottenham are now “well-placed” to seal a deal for Feyenoord striker Zepiqueno Redmond – who will leave the Eredivisie side on a free when his contract expires and could be a “bargain signing”.

The highly-rated 18-year-old, a Netherlands Under-19 international, has broken into the Feyenoord first team this season, making four senior league appearances, but they now look set to lose him for nothing as Spurs seek to take full advantage.

He is apparently regarded within the game as a real snip, with Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig labelling him among the Netherlands’ “interesting” crop of brand-new talents.

With just a couple of games to go in the Premier League this season, Chelsea sit in a superb position to claim a top-five place and secure a Champions League spot.

The Blues are two points clear of sixth-placed Nottingham Forest, but could be set for a last-day showdown with the Reds at the City Ground – in what will undoubtedly be a nervy affair.

However, regardless of what happens between now and the end of the campaign, Enzo Maresca deserves tremendous credit for the work he’s done during his first year in charge at Stamford Bridge.

The Italian has achieved a 60% win rate in the role, with the prospect of winning the Europa Conference League firmly within their own grasp ahead of tonight’s semi-final second leg against Djurgarden.

However, given their previous work in the transfer market, it would be no surprise to see them spend big again to take the side to the next level under the manager’s guidance.

The latest on Chelsea’s hunt for new signings this summer

Since Maresca took the reins back in the summer of last year, he’s desperately been in the market for a new talisman to help lead the line and take Chelsea to the next level.

Liam Delap has been one player who’s been on their shortlist over the last couple of weeks, potentially moving to the Blues after his £30m relegation release clause became active.

However, he’s not the only attacking player in their sights, with AC Milan winger Rafael Leao once again emerging on their shortlist, according to one Spanish outlet.

The report claims that the Blues have begun talks with the 25-year-old’s representatives over a move to the club after registering 23 combined goals and assists across all competitions this campaign.

It also states that the Portuguese international is seen as a top-level reinforcement for Maresca, taking the side to the left level as a result – but it’s previously been reported he could cost in the region of €80m (£64m).

Why Chelsea’s £64m target would be a better signing than Gittens

Over the last couple of months, Chelsea have been strongly linked with a move to land Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens this summer, but no deal has yet been agreed with the Bundesliga side.

The 20-year-old has impressed in Germany this campaign, registering 12 goals and three assists to date, with other English sides such as Liverpool and Arsenal also interested in his signature.

The former Manchester City youngster looks almost certain to return to England this summer, but the Blues should look to swerve a deal despite their keen interest.

Such an interest in Leao proves the club are evaluating all options to improve their attacking department, needing to make the right call over whom to land to fill the void in the final third.

When comparing the Milan star’s stats with those of Gittens, he’s managed to outperform in numerous key areas, highlighting what a superb addition he would be to Maresca’s side.

Leao, who’s been labelled “world-class” by analyst Ben Mattinson, has registered more combined goals and assists than the Dortmund star’s, whilst also completing more take-ons, showcasing the threat he possesses in attacking areas.

He’s also managed to complete more progressive carries per 90, along with more passes completed into the final third – having the tools to aid other people in improving their own tallies in the final third.

How Leao compares to Gittens in 2024/25
Statistics (per 90)	Leao	Gittens
Games played	33	30
Goals & assists	16	11
Progressive passes	3.6	2.1
Passes into final third	1.5	0.8
Shot-creating actions	4.4	3.7
Take-ons completed	46%	45%
Aerials won	57%	41%
Stats via FBref

His all-round dominance doesn’t stop there, winning more of the aerial duels he’s entered, potentially offering Maresca an added option in central areas should they fail to land a new striker.

£64m may appear to be another hefty fee to splash out on a new signing, but Leao has proven in Serie A this campaign that he has all of the qualities needed to improve the Blues squad.

As a result of the latest transfer story, the hierarchy should look to forget about any deal to land Gittens in the coming months, subsequently putting all of their focus into a deal for the Milan star.

The perfect Jackson upgrade: Chelsea ready to bid for £76m "complete CF"

Chelsea are looking to add a new striker to their ranks this summer

By
Joe Nuttall

May 7, 2025

Looking to ensure that their wait for silverware is far less than the years before winning this season’s FA Cup, Crystal Palace are now reportedly intensifying talks to sign an 18-year-old prospect who is already making waves.

Crystal Palace set to celebrate FA Cup in style

After upsetting the odds to defeat Manchester City in the FA Cup final, Crystal Palace have confirmed that they will be enjoying an open-top bus parade through south London this Monday.

The Eagles released a message to the fans to reveal the celebrations that are planned, saying on the official club website: “It’s the day you’ve long been waiting for: Palace’s open-top bus parade will transport your FA Cup winning heroes, and the historic trophy itself, down the SE25 streets starting at the top of Whitehorse Lane from 12:45.

“The parade route will see the bus start at the top of Whitehorse Lane, turning into Park Road and then down Holmesdale Road; this is expected to last approximately 45 minutes. Be there to bring the noise, and celebrate with Oliver Glasner’s outstanding Eagles as they show off our legendary prize.”

For many, they will deem Palace’s victory a once-in-a-lifetime moment, but Steve Parish and the rest of those at Selhurst Park will be desperate to make sure that such celebrations become more than just a rarity. And Glasner will be a big part of that.

The job that the Austrian has completed in south London deserves immense praise, but he may just be getting started. Crystal Palace are now a Europa League club and have the chance to create more moments of history with Glasner at the helm.

With European football to offer too, Palace could beat Premier League rivals Fulham to the arrival of an impressive 18-year-old midfielder this summer.

Crystal Palace intensify talks to sign Bongeli

According to Africa Foot, as relayed by Sport Witness, Crystal Palace are now set to intensify talks to sign Faveurdi Bongeli from TP Mazembe this summer. The 18-year-old midfielder is reportedly already making waves and has attracted the interest of the Eagles alongside Fulham and German Bundesliga side Borussia Mönchengladbach.

With plenty of competition for his signature, it’s no surprise that Palace have seemingly stepped up their efforts to win the race for Bongeli’s signature. Though still a teenager, the Palace target has already been making his mark on senior football, starting three of Mazembe’s five CAF Champions League games and winning once.

Crystal Palace jostling to sign "complete" midfielder in deal worth £30m

The Eagles could swoop in ahead of rival clubs.

ByTom Cunningham May 24, 2025

Despite that, it must be said that he still has a long way to go before he is capable of breaking into Glasner’s Palace midfield. Whether those in south London will be willing to take a chance on an unproven young player remains to be seen, in what could be a frustrating blow for Bongeli.

A player with plenty of potential, even despite his lack of experience, it will certainly be interesting to see whether Palace decide to give rivals a free run at a young star. Bongeli, meanwhile, could have the most important decision of his career to make in the coming months.

Tottenham Hotspur finally put an end to 17 long years of hurt last night.

Despite their diabolically poor domestic campaign and the absence of Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, and Lucas Bergvall, Ange Postecoglou’s side managed to do what would have been unthinkable a few months ago and won the Europa League.

It wasn’t the prettiest or highest quality of games, but that hardly matters, as all the fans will remember is their players’ gritty, backs-to-the-wall performance and how they brought home the club’s third European trophy.

Moreover, one of the players in the squad now has to go down as one of the biggest legends in Spurs history, someone who now has an even bigger legacy in North London than Gareth Bale.

Spurs' heroes in Bilbao

Before getting to the legend in question, it’s worth going over some of the other heroes for Spurs last night, such as Micky van de Ven.

Chalkboard

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

The Flying Dutchman was a rock at the back for the North Londoners, and on helping to suffocate Manchester United, he also managed to pull off a sensational goal line clearance after Guglielmo Vicario misjudged a cross mid-way through the second half.

Equally impressed with the former VfL Wolfsburg star, Spurs writer Alasdair Gold awarded him a justifiable 10/10 match rating at full-time, the same rating he gave Cristian Romero.

The World Cup winner, who has now won all five of the finals he’s played in, was named the Man of the Match, and, to be honest, that’s a difficult decision to argue against, as he was utterly immense.

If the Argentine titan wasn’t getting his head to a ball or intercepting a pass, he was getting the heads of United’s players, and by the end of the game, he had a number of them on strings.

Both Destiny Udogie and Pedro Porro were also handed 10/10 ratings by Gold on the night, with the former actually being the more attacking of the two as the encounter went on and the latter showing that when it really comes down to it, he can put in a solid defensive showing at right-back.

Finally, while he only got a 7/10 from the football.london journalist, we reckon Richarlison was just as important as anyone else on the team last night, as from the first minute until he was taken off in the 67th minute, the Brazilian forward worked like a dog.

If he wasn’t making runs down the left, the former Everton star was putting in a monstrous defensive effort that most probably wouldn’t associate with him, and if the 28-year-old does end up leaving in the summer, he’ll do so as a cult hero for his display.

However, with all that said, another player who didn’t even start last night can now go down as one of the most important players in Tottenham’s history and someone with an even greater legacy than Bale.

Player ratings courtesy of Sofascore

The Spurs star with a greater legacy than Bale

While every player in the team last night will now go down as a Spurs hero at a minimum, there is one star for which the victory secured him a legacy that few in the modern era can match: Son Heung-min.

Yes, even though the South Korean superstar only came on in the 67th minute, and aside from a free-kick that Kevin Danso almost got on the end of offered very little, he has now gone from club icon to club legend.

Arguably, the only player in the last 25 years who can be placed on a higher pedestal than the former Bayer Leverkusen star is Harry Kane, and that’s only down to him being the club’s all-time goalscorer.

Moreover, while Bale has a good legacy with the North Londoners, he only played one game in their successful League Cup run in 2007/08.

In contrast, the Chuncheon-born superstar made ten appearances in the Europa League this season, scoring three goals and providing one assist.

Furthermore, the victory last night was just the icing on the cake to remove any question over his status as a club legend, as since he moved to N17 in the summer of 2015, he has been nothing short of brilliant.

For example, in 454 appearances for the club, the “incredible” phenom, as dubbed by Postecoglou, has scored 173 goals and provided 101 assists, which is an absurd average of a goal involvement every 1.65 games.

Appearances

454

Minutes

32186′

Goals

173

Assists

101

Goal Involvements per Match

0.60

Minutes per Goal Involvements

117.46′

Major Trophies

1

Ultimately, Son was always going to go down as a Spurs icon regardless of what happened last night, but the victory in Bilbao has now ensured he’ll leave the club as a legend and as someone with an even greater legacy than Bale.

Spurs hero just proved why he's a £100m star in the making in Bilbao

Spurs ended their 17-year trophy drought by lifting the Europa League trophy in Bilbao.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes May 22, 2025

Manchester City might win the FA Cup next week, but it won’t be a consolation for the dismal season they have endured in the Premier League and Champions League.

Knocked out of the latter by Real Madrid in February, City’s title challenge was effectively over by the turn of the year.

Pep Guardiola made key signings in January, although he will be keen on adding a few more players to his squad in the summer.

Could he be set to raid the Bundesliga once again?

Man City's search for a striker

As reported earlier this week by German news outlet Bild, City have now joined the race for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitiké this summer.

They signed Omar Marmoush in January from the same club and it appears as though they are looking to raid them once more.

Liverpool and Arsenal have been heavily linked with the Frenchman of late, but Guardiola looks ready to make his move.

Due to the clubs chasing him, Frankfurt have placed a price tag of €100m (£85m) on his head, which might deter a few potential bids.

City have made their fair share of signings from the German top flight over the years, but it was their capture of Edin Dzeko which set the club up for their first Premier League title.

Hugo Ekitike could be City’s next Edin Dzeko

Dzeko joined City midway through the 2010/11 campaign – following his own prolific stint in the Bundesliga with Wolfsburg – and enjoyed a solid first few months, scoring six times for the club.

The 2011/12 season saw the Etihad side claim their first ever Premier League crown and Dzeko netted 19 times in all competitions under Roberto Mancini.

A pure out-and-out striker, the Bosnian ended his spell at the club by scoring 72 goals across 198 matches, a more than respectable outlay. That followed the 85 goals he had scored in just 142 games during his time in Germany.

A potential German import like Dzeko, Ekitike certainly has his own qualities in front of goal. That much is known. For Frankfurt this season, he has found the back of the net on 15 occasions in the Bundesliga.

Furthermore, he has also created 12 big chances and succeeds with 1.6 dribbles per game, indicating that he offers more than just a clinical nature in front of goal.

Metric

Bundesliga

Europa League

Goals

15

4

Assists

7

3

Big chances created

12

6

Shots per game

3.5

2.2

Total duels won per game

4.2

4.3

During the formative years of his career, many expected him to go on to achieve big things, with sections of the media believing he “could be the next Mbappe” after he was linked with a move to Newcastle in 2022.

The youngster might not have hit the highs of the current Real Madrid sensation, but optimism is there that his career has been revived at Frankfurt following a disappointing spell with PSG.

Compared to his peers in the Bundesliga, Ekitike ranks in the top 9% for total shots (3.82), assists (0.29), shot-creating actions (3.52) and successful take-ons (1.9) per 90 over the previous 365 days.

Not merely content with being a pure striker, the Frenchman offers plenty in the final third. While £85m might put City off, if they can bring this price down, a move could be on the cards.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

While Guardiola does already boast a Sergio Aguero-esque talisman in Erling Haaland, Ekitike could represent the perfect understudy – just as Dzeko was all those years ago.

Instant Marmoush upgrade: Man City targeting "world class" £85m star

Man City will be aiming to strengthen this summer

ByRoss Kilvington May 10, 2025

Aston Villa have made multiple attempts to sign a defender, submitting two bids, and they have now received a response, according to a report.

Villa keen to strengthen at the back

With Emiliano Martinez seemingly edging towards a summer exit, one of Unai Emery’s most difficult tasks this summer could be to bring in a new goalkeeper capable of replacing the Argentine, and the manager has his sights on several different targets.

Target

Current club

Potential cost

Aaron Ramsdale

Southampton

£25m

Joan Garcia

Espanyol

£25m

Caoimhin Kelleher

Liverpool

£40m

Lucas Chevalier

Lille

£40m

Signing a new goalkeeper could be viewed as a priority, given that it will be a tough ask to find a player on Martinez’s level, but Emery and NSWE are also keen to bolster the club’s defensive options this summer, with bringing in a new right-back on the agenda.

Related Aston Villa could sign their new version of Grealish for £65m this summer

Aston Villa have been linked with a Premier League sensation

Posts ByRoss Kilvington May 26, 2025

That is according to a report from Panama, relayed by Sport Witness, which suggests Aston Villa are now very keen on signing Marseille’s Michael Amir Murillo, having already made two offers to sign the right-back, which have both been knocked back by the Ligue 1 side.

Having made multiple attempts to sign Murillo, it is clear Villa are determined to sign him, and a deal would be unlikely to break the bank, with the report stating that Marseille are looking to receive a fee of €25m (£21m).

It is unclear whether the Villans are willing to match the French club’s asking price, and the right-back’s arrival may depend on whether Matty Cash or Andres Garcia depart this summer, considering Emery is already very well-stocked in the right-back area.

"Unique" Murillo impressing under Roberto De Zerbi

The report highlights that the Panama international has received increased game time since Roberto De Zerbi’s arrival at Marseille last summer, and his versatility was on show throughout the 2024-25 campaign, often featuring at both right-back and centre-back.

As such, the 29-year-old’s arrival may not be dependent on Cash or Garcia leave this summer, given his ability to play in multiple positions, and he has clearly impressed De Zerbi, who said: “Murillo has unique characteristics. It is therefore not easy to replace him, especially with a player of similar quality.”

That said, given the versatile defender’s age, there could be doubts over whether he would be a necessary addition to the squad, particularly considering the fact that Emery has Cash and Garcia at his disposal at right-back, although the latter is yet to cement himself as a regular starter.

Not only that, but Emery is also well-stocked in the centre-back department, with Pau Torres and Ezri Konsa available, while Tyrone Mings was among Villa’s most consistent performers in the Premier League during the 2024/25 campaign.

After what feels like an eternity, Glasgow Rangers finally have their man. The 49ers believe that Russell Martin is the manager to take the Ibrox side to the next level.

The former Southampton manager has been out of work since his sacking on the South coast last December and faces a baptism of fire in Glasgow.

Indeed, some sections of the support do not believe he is the right man to lead the club into next season and beyond, citing his failure at the Saints as a main reason.

However, looking at his playing style and his ability to get his team attacking at every opportunity during games, he could well be a success at Rangers.

First things first, the 49ers must back him accordingly and allow Martin to bring in players who fit his system.

Improving the defence is a priority for the Gers this summer, as they haven’t truly replaced Connor Goldson’s presence at the back ever since he left the club last summer.

Why Rangers still need to replace Goldson

Goldson spent six years at Ibrox after joining from Brighton and Hove Albion in the summer of 2018, becoming one of Steven Gerrard’s first signings.

Between then and May 2024, the Englishman made a total of 309 competitive appearances for the Light Blues, missing just 22 games through injury across six seasons.

He was a beacon of consistency, no doubt about that. The time was right for the club to sell him, however, as the 2023/24 campaign saw several mistakes creep into his game.

There were times that he regularly got caught out by long balls over the top, but one under-par season shouldn’t detract from just how effective he was before that.

He was perhaps at his best during the 2020/21 campaign. That year, Rangers won their first league title in a decade, going through the whole league season undefeated in the process.

Connor Goldson’s statistics at Rangers

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2023/24

48

0

3

2022/23

38

3

3

2021/22

61

4

4

2020/21

56

8

3

2019/20

52

4

2

2018/19

54

4

0

Via Transfermarkt

Goldson didn’t miss a single Premiership game as the club conceded just 13 goals, keeping 26 clean sheets.

The Englishman won a staggering 71% of his total duels per game that term, while also making three clearances, 1.3 tackles and being dribbled past only 0.2 times per game in the top flight.

Goldson was at his peak then, and while the level may have dipped over the following few seasons, he remained the first-choice centre-back under a succession of managers.

To replace him last year, Philippe Clement brought in Robin Propper. The move didn’t exactly work out as planned, and it appears as though he is set to leave after a single season.

It looks as though money is available for Martin to bolster his squad this summer. Signing a couple of defenders is certainly high on the list.

Could he potentially bring in someone whom he signed for two of his three previous clubs to Ibrox? It would prove to be a shrewd move if he does…

Martin's dream first signing at Rangers

In order to get the fans onside straight away, Martin will have to offload the deadwood and sign some excellent players. Several names have been linked prior to his appointment, including Cameron Burgess, Metinho and Largie Ramazani recently.

Now it looks as though the newest target is familiar to Martin, which means Rangers could soon make their first summer signing.

Harry Darling is a defender who played under Martin at both Swansea and MK Dons and could make for a fairly solid first signing under the new manager, especially with the Light Blues now joining the chase for his signature.

The centre-back is out of contract at Swansea, meaning he wouldn’t cost the Gers a penny, with the Daily Record naming him as a potential option for the club last month.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

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Wrexham, Stoke City and Norwich City are also keen on him. However, the allure of playing under Martin, plus the chance to win trophies and play European football, means Glasgow is likely his preferred destination.

If so, he could be an ideal replacement for Goldson.

Why Rangers must sign Harry Darling

Darling joined Swansea in 2022 and made 112 appearances across his three seasons with the Welsh side.

The 25-year-old managed to score 12 goals, indicating that he can provide a goal threat at set pieces, akin to Goldson at Rangers.

In the Championship last season, Darling won 65% of his total duels contested per game. He showcased his strengths in one-on-one battles.

Elsewhere, the defender made five clearances, recovered 3.9 balls and made 0.8 tackles per game in the second tier, having notably been praised by his manager Luke Williams after a “heroic” performance against West Bromwich Albion at the turn of the year.

The thing that stands out is his attacking qualities. Indeed, when compared to positional peers across Europe’s top 14 leagues, Darling ranks in the top 3% for non-penalty goals, the top 4% for total shots and in the top 7% for assists per 90.

He loves to get forward as often as possible, evidenced by the fact that he ranks in the top 6% for touches in the attacking penalty area and in the top 15% for progressive carries per 90 for Swansea.

These statistics suggest Darling would be a solid signing for Rangers ahead of the new season.

Not only does he have an excellent rapport with Martin, but the Englishman is capable of offering a threat in the opposition penalty area.

Signing a player with this quality for nothing could see the new manager get off to a promising start in his new role.

Related Rangers official in South America today to watch 6-cap international live

Rangers have sent an official to South America to take a closer look at a midfielder.

Posts ByBrett Worthington Jun 5, 2025

Legendary Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson tried to sign an Arsenal icon who he thought was “absolutely perfect” for the Red Devils.

The iconic Scottish boss transformed Man Utd in an Old Trafford tenure that lasted more than 26 years, and in that time worked with a plethora of academy graduates, such as David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt and Gary Neville, turning them into first-team stars.

Arguably the best manager of all time, Ferguson won 13 Premier League titles and regularly shook up his United squad in the transfer market.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s Man Utd honours
Trophy	Years won
Premier League	1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013
Champions League	1999, 2008
FA Cup	1990, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2004
League Cup	1992, 2006, 2009, 2010
FIFA Club World Cup	2008
UEFA Super Cup	1991
European Cup Winners’ Cup	1991
Intercontinental Cup	1999
Community Shield	1990, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011

Sir Alex Ferguson’s best signings at Man Utd in pictures

As well as bringing through the famous Class of 92, Ferguson would also make a number of shrewd signings in Manchester, with one of his last being Robin van Persie from Arsenal.

The Gunners captain swapped north London for Old Trafford in 2012 and fired Man Utd to the Premier League title in his debut season. Ferguson’s assistant in Manchester, Mike Phelan, recently named Van Persie as one of Ferguson’s best signings as Man Utd boss.

“Well, obviously, Van Persie was an interesting one, because he took us to the title in Sir Alex’s final season. [He] made the difference.”

Phelan named Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Eric Cantona and Park Ji-Sung alongside Van Persie as Man Utd’s five best signings under Ferguson, but if the manager had his way, he would have signed an Arsenal player shortly after arriving at Old Trafford in the 1980s.

Ferguson tried to sign Arsenal star Tony Adams

That man was Tony Adams, with the centre-back going down as one of the greatest Premier League centre-backs of all time after his 19-year career with the Gunners.

The Englishman captained Arsenal to two Premier League titles under Arsene Wenger and made more than 650 appearances for the club in all competitions. Going down in history known as ‘Mr. Arsenal’, things could have been a lot different for Adams if Ferguson was successful in his transfer attempt.

Inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame, Ferguson previously hailed Adams, admitting he saw the defender as “a United player in an Arsenal shirt” and revealed he tried to sign Adams when he was a teenager.

Tony Adams’ Premier League stats
Games	255
Goals	12
Clean sheets	115
Assists	9
Titles won	2

Still the only player to captain a team to a league title in three different decades, Adams was also hailed by Arsene Wenger.

Adams was one that got away from Ferguson, although the defenders he had through the years at Old Trafford, such as Steve Bruce, Gary Pallister, Jaap Stam, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, served him pretty well themselves.

It is no understatement to say that Glasgow Rangers require a major overhaul this summer.

Not just in the playing squad or staff members, but in mentality. Since the Ibrox side won the Premiership title in 2021, the Gers have won only two trophies since.

In comparison, Celtic have won every available league title on offer and have clinched a domestic double this season, although they did lose to Aberdeen in the SFA Cup final.

Things have to change at Ibrox, and fast. The 49ers’ involvement should give those at the club a boost, but the priority is a new manager.

The likes of Steven Gerrard and Davide Ancelotti have been linked with a move to Glasgow, while several other candidates have been touted for the vacant role.

Whoever becomes the next permanent manager will have work to do in order to improve the first-team squad this summer.

There are various positions that need urgent improvement, no doubt about that. Furthermore, several players could be sold to raise funds and help reduce the wage bill.

Cyriel Dessers may finish the season as the top scorer in the Premiership, but if a reasonable offer comes in this summer, the club should cash in.

Why Rangers must sell Cyriel Dessers

Never has a Rangers player exuded more Jekyll and Hyde-like qualities than Dessers. One minute, he is simply unplayable, causing chaos for opposition defenders domestically and in Europe.

Next, he struggles with the easiest of chances and offers next to nothing in the final third.

There is no doubt about his record in front of goal for the Light Blues since he joined in a deal worth £4.5m from Cremonese in the summer of 2023. Indeed, the Nigerian striker has scored 51 goals and grabbed 16 assists across 109 games for the club during his first two seasons.

On the surface, this is an impressive record in front of goal. He has shone in Europe, with his display against Fenerbahce one of the finest by a Gers forward in quite a while.

Unfortunately, these performances are few and far between. Throughout the 2023/24 league season, Dessers missed a staggering 27 big chances across 35 matches.

Over the same number of games in 2024/25, he missed 21 big chances, a slight improvement, but still not great.

Metric

2023/24

2024/25

Goals

16

18

Assists

4

2

Shots per game

2.9

2.4

Big chances missed

27

21

Goal conversion percentage

16%

22%

During the winter transfer window, several clubs were linked with making a move for Dessers. Saint-Étienne, Cagliari, and Empoli were all showing interest in securing a move for the 30-year-old.

Much to the disappointment of large sections of the support, the centre-forward remained in Glasgow until the end of the season at least.

He has two years left on his current contract, which suggests now would be the ideal time to cash in and secure a decent fee for the player.

This could be used to fund future signings, especially a couple of younger players with a higher ceiling for growth.

Dessers shouldn’t be the only player to be moved on this summer by the new manager. Nedim Bajrami is reportedly attracting interest from afar, and now might be a good time to part ways with the Albanian.

Nedim Bajrami has offers on the table

According to reports in Albania (as relayed by Glasgow Times), Bajrami has two options on the table with regard to a summer exit away from the Light Blues.

One comes from the Italian top flight, while the other is from the Bundesliga, and the report states that the midfielder is likely to leave Glasgow when the transfer window finally opens.

Much will depend on the price, however, as the 49ers will be keen on recouping much of the £3.4m that was spent on the Albanian last summer.

It’s safe to say he hasn’t exactly enjoyed the most productive of campaigns in Scotland, despite arriving with plenty of hype.

What exactly went wrong with Bajrami?

Why Rangers must sell Nedim Bajrami this summer

The 26-year-old had impressed for his country at Euro 2024, scoring an incredible opener against Italy after just 23 seconds.

A move to Ibrox in the final days of the summer transfer window looked like a real coup for Philippe Clement.

What looked like a potentially transformative signing for the club eventually turned into a waste of money. Across 44 games for Rangers, he only scored five goals and chipped in with four assists, showing that he has rarely made a big impact at the top end of the pitch.

Considering the sum of money the club had paid, this was hardly the best of returns, especially following a decent start to life in Glasgow.

The midfielder only started 15 Premiership matches, creating only four big chances, averaging one key pass and succeeding with just one dribble per game in the top flight.

In Europe, Bajrami didn’t fare much better. Indeed, he could only muster a single goal from 11 appearances, winning less than half of his total duels per game and averaging 1.3 key passes per game, which shows how ineffective he has been on the European stage since his move to Ibrox.

The nadir came against Queen’s Park in the Scottish Cup back in February. Rangers suffered a shock 1-0 home defeat – arguably one of their worst domestic losses – but Bajrami was subbed at half-time following a dismal display.

Stevie Clifford, who runs Four Lads Had a Dream, criticised the Albanian a month before, saying:

“I’ll highlight it again, it’s not singling him out, but Nedim Bajrami is not offering enough at all.

“We need him to influence games & be involved, largely anonymous so far, again.

“£4m is big money to do it in these type of games & he’s miles off it so far.”

All of these points point towards a likely summer exit when the window opens next month. Should Rangers receive a bid that is deemed acceptable, then they must be ready to cash in.

He didn’t live up to initial expectations, and regardless of who the new manager is, Bajrami’s future already looks settled with the offers that are on the table from other clubs.

Hopefully, he can make better signings this summer.

Gerrard's next Defoe: Rangers could sign PL "living legend" this summer

Rangers must make a move for a current Premier League striker this summer

ByRoss Kilvington May 24, 2025

After losing Matheus Cunha to Manchester United, Wolverhampton Wanderers have now reportedly set their sights on signing an impressive Championship forward this summer.

Cunha officially joins Man Utd

In one of the earliest, though perhaps least surprising moves of the summer, Cunha has now officially swapped Wolves for Manchester United. In truth, as soon as the Brazilian’s £63m release clause came to light, his exit seemed inevitable. For Wolves, it’s now more important than ever that they spend the money well and replace their talisman in seamless fashion. That, however, is easier said than done.

Appearances

92

Goals

33

Assists

15

Cunha’s record speaks for itself. The former Atletico Madrid man particularly found his best form throughout the 2024/25 campaign and replacing his impact will undoubtedly be Wolves’ toughest task this summer.

Whilst it’s easy to assume the worst, Wolves already experienced a glimpse of life without Cunha throughout the season when he was missing through injury and suspension. It was then that Vitor Pereira’s side proved that they’re more than just the Brazilian, securing three of their six impressive consecutive wins to send a statement in the battle to secure their Premier League status.

With that top-flight status secured and £63m to spare, Wolves should ensure that life without Cunha remains blissful rather than the nightmare many have envisaged in the past.

To that end, who could arrive remains to be seen. Stars such as Harvey Elliott have already threatened to steal the headlines in recent weeks and signing a Premier League champion would certainly do no harm.

Whether the former Fulham gem is capable of producing the same output as Cunha is the big question, though. Instead, Wolves could push on to sign a proven goalscorer in the coming months.

Wolves "monitoring" Ivanovic

According to South London football reporter Richard Cawley, Wolves are now “monitoring” Mihailo Ivanovic following his excellent debut season at Millwall. The Serbian striker scored 12 goals in his first Championship campaign and only looks set to get better at just 20 years old.

Given how he starred in his first season, Millwall may naturally be reluctant to let their forward leave so soon after he initially arrived. But the Premier League call is certainly a difficult one to turn down.

Millwall manager Alex Neil has been among those full of praise for Ivanovic in recent months, telling reporters in April: “Any 20-year-old that leads the line in the Championship and can get nearly [10 goals], and he’ll get double figures before the end of the season.

“If you do that, that’s an unbelievable season and it won’t be surprising me if people start talking about him. I’ve already seen something the other day talking about the top 10 young talents in Europe – he’s one of them.”

Having lost a top talent in Cunha, if Wolves managed to sign one of the top 10 young talents in Europe – as Neil believes Ivanovic is – then that should be seen as excellent business.