Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch could be about to reshuffle the backroom staff at Elland Road, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.
The lowdown: Settling in
The 48-year-old was appointed as the Whites’ boss following the departure of fan favourite Marcelo Bielsa in February and has set about attempting to retain the Yorkshire club’s Premier League status.
Currently just two points clear of the drop zone having played one game more than Everton, things remain precarious for Leeds heading into the final weeks of the 2021/22 campaign.
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Despite the troubling situation, Marsch could already be looking toward summer changes at Thorp Arch…
The latest: Friends reunited…
Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones has claimed that the American could have one eye on a reunion with current Manchester United assistant manager Chris Armas.
The journalist outlined: “It would be a much better fit for him because, at the moment, it sounds like there’s almost zero respect at Manchester United.
“He needs to work with people that understand what he’s good at and give him the respect that he clearly deserves in his field of work.
“Jesse Marsch is somebody that knows him well, he’s definitely contemplating how his backroom team shapes up for next season and it wouldn’t be a surprise at all if he turned up at Elland Road.”
The verdict: Smart move
Should Marsch stay in situ as expected, regardless of Leeds’ top-flight status, bringing his former assistant from their work together in Major League Soccer for Chicago Fire and New York Red Bulls would make plenty of sense.
As Old Trafford prepares for the arrival of Erik ten Hag, Armas appears almost certain to move on, and the Elland Road hierarchy should be primed to bring the 49-year-old New York-born coach to Yorkshire.
Regardless of the Whites’ fate this term, the board backed Marsch with a deal until June 2025 and therefore should be prepared to do so once again over the summer with coaching and player additions.
In other news, Phil Hay makes exciting triple transfer claim. Find out more here!
As the end of the season approaches, Rangers have a good chance of securing some silverware.
They are through to the Scottish Cup final and have a realistic chance of reaching the Europa League showpiece, despite trailing 1-0 from the first leg of their semi-final tie.
One major problem that Giovanni van Bronckhorst faces, though, is the number of players who are out of contract at the end of next season. The Dutchman faces a big summer ahead, and one such player should be getting tied down to a new deal as soon as possible.
Ryan Kent was arguably Steven Gerrard’s marquee signing when he was in charge of Rangers. Having initially signed on loan in 2018, the winger made the move permanently for £7.5m the following summer and has been a star at Ibrox ever since.
The 25-year-old has played 169 matches for the club, scoring 30 goals and registering 45 assists. That is a very impressive return for a left winger and some of those contributions have been massive, such as his goal in a 2-1 win against Celtic at the end of 2019.
His performances have earned plenty of praise, with pundit Frank McAvennie claiming that the 25-year-old is “irreplaceable” for Rangers and the £52k-p/w maestro should start every game for Van Bronckhorst’s side.
The 47-year-old could build his team around the likes of Kent and Alfredo Morelos if he succeeds in tying them down to long-term deals. Winning a trophy or two this season could also be vital as an incentive to play in the Champions League next term.
The Dutchman will have the summer to rejig the playing squad and stamp his authority on the squad by making his own signings. However, his most important pieces of business of could well be the securing of key Rangers players on new long-term contracts at Ibrox, with Kent being a prime example of that.
If the 25-year-old is allowed to run down his current deal without an extension being agreed, it would be disastrous from the club and would leave the Gers faithful livid.
AND in other news, Wilson masterclass: Rangers must brutally axe 26 y/o dud who’s an “all-round shambles”
Football is the world’s biggest sport, with over 3.5 billion fans world-wide. The sport is played in almost every corner of the world, and basically every country has a national league. The greatest interest and best quality in football is found in the European leagues, such as Premier League.
Not only is football popular amongst players and fans – betters also follow the predicted outcomes of games. Bets can be placed on dedicated betting sites that focuses solely on sports betting, or on casinos that offers traditional casino games such as table games and slots online, but also have a section with odds.
However, when it comes to betting, there is more to it than just placing a bet on the odds you think are the most favourable. For example, keeping track of the players’ performances can make great differences in the outcomes of the game.
Keep an eye on your team and the players
If you are betting on a team sport like football, it is important that you get to know the teams as well as possible. This is a betting strategy that is of outmost importance. You need to locate all the key information such as: their strengths and weaknesses, their current and previous form, how they perform at home versus away, injuries that have occurred within the team etc. It is only with this information that you can truly and objectively evaluate and analyse the team and its players.
You also need to keep an eye on various changes that might be happening to the teams as well as how they have performed the previous season versus the last. Have a look at which players are getting worn out, those who are leaving and which new players that are entering.
Make sure to have both discipline and patience
Placing winning bets requires either a lot of luck, or it can be a combination of skill and luck. If you do not keep your head in the game, quite literally, you will not be able to learn any strategies.
If you want to get a grip of betting strategies, step one is to understand that a lot of focus is required from you. You cannot hope that things will just come naturally. It requires time, discipline, and patience, which is far from suitable for all players, and therefore not everyone can, or even wants to, bet strategically.
Budgeting is necessary
As you can imagine, betting strategically is about increasing your chances of winning in the first place. It is, however, also about controlling how much you spend. With that said, budgeting is necessary for a good betting strategy. A wise rule of thumb, that goes for all sorts of gambling, is to only gamble with money that you can afford to lose. Additionally, you should never place further odds to win back what you have once lost.
Gambling, if not controlled, can pose a risk for addiction and thus, you must be aware of the risks that follows with the activity. Budgeting is one way to lower the risks of a huge loss.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been dealt another blow with an injured star now facing several weeks on the sidelines.
Arsenal navigate plethora of injuries to top Premier League table
Considering the sheer number of key first team players who’ve been sidelined at various points already this season, Arsenal’s position at the top of the Premier League table is all the more impressive.
The Gunners have endured a torrid season with injuries, much like last campaign, which has severely tested Arteta’s squad depth.
While Arsenal have still begun the campaign very strongly, and are unbeaten in their last 18 matches across all competitions, their relentless succession of fitness problems has affected big-name personnel across multiple positions.
Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest
Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal
Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos
Arsenal 2-0 West Ham
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
Arsenal 2-0 Brighton
Burnley 0-2 Arsenal
Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal
Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 4-1 Tottenham
Arsenal 3-1 Bayern Munich
Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal
Arsenal 2-0 Brentford
August proved particularly damaging, with Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Ben White and William Saliba all sustaining injuries.
Odegaard’s MCL knee injury against West Ham in early October proved especially problematic, keeping the captain out for nearly two months and robbing Arsenal of their creative heartbeat during crucial fixtures.
Gabriel Magalhaes remains absent for weeks following a thigh injury sustained during Brazil’s November friendly against Senegal. His regular partner Saliba has battled recurring problems, missing recent matches against Chelsea and Brentford due to an unspecified knock.
Arsenal handed Declan Rice injury twist after pre-Aston Villa update
The England international has been their arguable player of the season.
ByEmilio Galantini Dec 5, 2025
Summer signing Cristhian Mosquera compounds Arteta’s concerns after suffering a ‘complicated’ ankle injury that will require further testing to determine his recovery timeline.
Declan Rice provided fresh worries after limping off late against Brentford with a calf problem, and while the England midfielder insisted he felt “fine” ready to play against Aston Villa this afternoon, Arteta suggests he’s subject to a late fitness test.
Leandro Trossard has missed matches with muscular issues but should return within ‘days’ according to Arteta’s latest briefing, with the same going for Saliba.
Havertz suffered a setback in his knee rehabilitation and won’t return until possibly late December, while Gabriel Jesus finally returned to contention recently after missing nearly a year recovering from an ACL tear.
Summer signing Noni Madueke was out for two months after knee damage against Man City in September, though scans cleared him of cruciate ligament damage. The winger has since returned to action, providing Arteta with a renewed attacking threat.
That is a staggering 10 first-team stars who’ve been sidelined at various points, or still are, with a pretty concerning update now coming to light on Mosquera’s condition.
Cristhian Mosquera facing eight weeks out after Arsenal injury blow
The Spaniard was forced off early doors during Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Brentford in midweek, and according to BBC journalist Sami Mokbel, Mosquera now faces ‘at least’ six weeks out through injury in ‘another blow’ to Arsenal.
The key phrase there is ‘at least’, and it could be as long as two months, with Saliba’s fitness now becoming more crucial than ever.
If the Frenchman is still unable to start, then Arteta will have little choice but to play Jurrien Timber alongside Piero Hincapie for this afternoon’s crunch clash against Villa in the Midlands.
White would then likely be handed his second consecutive league start at right-back for the first time since May, with Arsenal’s strength in depth now set to play an even more pivotal role in their quest to win a first league title in 22 years.
It is important to note that the timeframe for Mosquera’s injury lay-off are initial concerns from within Arsenal, with the ex-Valencia starlet set for further testing to determine his exact recovery timeline.
It is a blow for the centre-back personally after his fine start to life at N5, despite having to contend with being a back-up to Arteta’s first-choice centre-back pairing.
Arsenal believe Mosquera could become one of the best centre-backs in world football in a few years, according to some reports, and nothing we’ve seen so far disproves that theory.
Liverpool’s quality has been such across the past decade that blips are met with dismay across the red half of Merseyside. Anfield and its supporters, quite simply, are used to winning.
Ten years ago, Liverpool appointed Jurgen Klopp following Brendan Rodgers’ dismissal. Ten years ago, everything changed. Now, the Reds are considered among the most ferocious and feared in Europe; beating Liverpool is a trophy in itself.
But Arne Slot has work to do, with Liverpool having lost three in a row, including successive league outings in the final moments.
Superstar signings such as Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz have yet to hit their stride on Merseyside, and there’s no denying there are tactical balances from head to toe. This is all grist for the mill of negativity, but Liverpool are sure to click into gear soon.
However, not all problems can be fixed so simply. For example, Mohamed Salah has been one of the most disappointing stars so far,
Liverpool preparing for Salah departure
Salah is of an age that poor form is viewed through the lens of the inevitable decline, which claims footballers into their thirties. But this is short-sighted.
Only last season, the 33-year-old scored 34 goals and laid on 23 assists across all competitions, broke the Premier League record for goal involvements in a 38-game season (47).
There’s no denying the Egyptian has been poor this term, anonymous for large sections of games and enduring his slowest start to a Liverpool campaign with three goals and assists apiece from ten matches. But he is still Salah, and Liverpool’s problems reach every area of the field.
While the long-serving superstar is expected to find a purple patch once again this term, there’s no denying he is getting older, and Liverpool need to find themselves a successor.
Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo has been earmarked as the man for the job.
According to Spanish sources, the in-form Premier League star is right at the top of Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes’ shopping list as he plans for the future, though competition is sure to be thick.
The Ghana international is valued at £75m and Bournemouth resisted an effort from Tottenham this summer. He has since signed a new contract at the Vitality, running until 2029, so the Cherries’ position is strong.
Why Liverpool want Antoine Semenyo
Liverpool’s chaotic season opener was a sign of things to come, winning 4-3 against Bournemouth. Semenyo bagged a brace and played with incredible quality and composure.
Now seven matches deep into the league campaign, Semenyo has scored six times all told and provided three assists too. This is a remarkable return; this is Salah-like territory.
Indeed, while Salah is well below his best, there’s a sense that even if the £400k-per-week star was on his A-game, he might not be on the same level as Bournemouth’s main man, whose efforts thus far have even led one Premier League analyst to suggest he is “one of the best players in the world”.
Matches (starts)
7 (7)
7 (7)
Goals
2
6
Assists
2
3
Shots (on target)*
1.7 (0.7)
2.4 (1.3)
Touches*
42.1
50.0
Pass completion
74%
75%
Chances created*
1.7
1.4
Dribbles*
0.1
2.1
Ball recoveries*
3.4
5.6
Tackles*
0.0
1.7
Duels won*
1.4
6.7
It is, quite frankly, a staggering drop-off, with Semenyo outstripping the legendary winger across every area in the Premier League this season. The Ghanaian has been sharper in attack, more intelligent on the ball and far more combative and engaged in the build-up.
Salah remains one of the deadliest forwards in English football history, though, and his two-goal haul so far this season has lifted him above Andy Cole and into fourth place in the all-time scoring charts.
But with Federico Chiesa and Jeremie Frimpong stood as Salah’s back-up options on the attacking right flank this term, it’s very clear that a high-level replacement would be needed.
It might be worth drawing attention to the fact that Semenyo is of an age with a 25-year-old version of Salah, a version who waved goodbye to a career in Italy and signed for Klopp’s Liverpool in a £34m deal.
And the signs, to be sure, are promising. While the data pool is shallow, statistical site FBref have crunched the data to reveal Semenyo ranks not only among the best for output in the English top flight this season, but among the top 10% for ball recoveries and the top 3% for aerial battles won per 90.
There is little to suggest he would not be a star at Liverpool. Two-footed and dynamic, the £75k-per-week talent feels very Liverpool-esque, with a hunger for success at the highest level and a fearsome, high-octane take on the game.
Last season, Semenyo scored 11 goals and posted six assists in the Premier League. This gave him praise from many and it provided Bournemouth with a £70m bid from Spurs to chew on. Now, he is levels higher. Imagine the heights he could hit in Slot’s Liverpool squad.
In April, Salah penned new terms at Liverpool. The greatest player in the Anfield side’s recent chapter will play his football in red until the end of next season. But what if Salah fails to reclaim his one-time level? Can Slot afford such a weak link dominating his frontline for much time to come?
With Semenyo added to the fold, there’s a sense Liverpool would have all they need to come together and hit that vein of form which would carry them to titles and sustained success.
Better than Guehi: Liverpool dreaming of signing "best U21 player in the PL"
Liverpool may need to dip back into the transfer market in 2026 after a disjointed start to the season.
Everton have splashed the cash on the brand new Hill Dickinson Stadium, costing the Toffees an estimated £750m.
Under new owners in the Friedkin Group, those on Merseyside also splashed the cash in the transfer window in 2025, with Jack Grealish being the marquee signing, arriving on loan from Manchester City.
Everton's most expensive sales of all time
The Toffees have received some huge fees over the years.
ByCharlie Smith Oct 3, 2025
But who is Everton’s record signing? Here’s a look at the club’s 20 biggest additions in their history.
Rank
Player
Fee
Signed from
Year
Gylfi Sigurdsson
£45m
Swansea City
2017
Tyler Dibling
£42m
Southampton
2025
Richarlison
£40m
Watford
2018
Amadou Onana
£33m
Lille
2022
Romelu Lukaku
£28m
Chelsea
2014
Alex Iwobi
£28m
Arsenal
2019
Yerry Mina
£27.2m
Barcelona
2018
Thierno Barry
£27m
Villarreal
2025
Beto
£26m
Udinese
2023
Jordan Pickford
£25m
Sunderland
2017
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
£25m
Chelsea
2025
Michael Keane
£25m
Burnley
2017
Yannick Bolasie
£25m
Crystal Palace
2016
Moise Kean
£25m
Juventus
2019
Jean-Philippe Gbamin
£25m
Mainz
2019
Ben Godfrey
£25m
Norwich City
2020
Davy Klaassen
£23.6m
Ajax
2017
Allan
£22.3m
Napoli
2020
Andre Gomes
£22m
Barcelona
2022
Theo Walcott
£20m
Arsenal
2018
Here is a detailed look at Everton's 10 biggest signings… 10 Jordan Pickford £25m from Sunderland
Jordan Pickford is one of seven players Everton have spent £25m on, and arguably the most successful.
The goalkeeper has been first choice for the Toffees and England during his time on Merseyside and could well finish his career at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
9 Beto £26m from Udinese
Costing slightly more at £26m was striker Beto, who swapped Serie A and Udinese for a shot at the Premier League with Everton.
The Portuguese striker even scored on his debut 24 hours after putting pen to paper on a Toffees deal which is set to expire in 2027.
8 Thierno Barry £27m from Villarreal
Another forward who arrived for a big fee was Thierno Barry. Following Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s departure from Goodison Park, Everton acted in the 2025 summer transfer market to sign the French forward.
Villarreal recieved £27m, whereas Barry signed a four-year deal on £45,000-a-week.
7 Yerry Mina £27.2m from Barcelona
After just six months at Barcelona, defender Yerry Mina joined Everton in 2018, costing the Toffees in excess of £27m.
The Colombia international spent five years at Goodison Park and left upon the expiration of his contract in 2023 for Italian side Fiorentina.
6 Alex Iwobi £28m from Arsenal
Alex Iwobi ended up costing Everton £28m in 2019, with the versatile midfielder spending four years on Merseyside before he was sold to Fulham.
The Nigerian made more than 100 appearances for the Toffees, who recouped £22m of the fee when Iwobi moved to Craven Cottage.
5 Romelu Lukaku £28m from Chelsea
Clubs have spent more than £300m on Romelu Lukaku during the Belgian’s career to date, and his first big-money move was to Everton back in 2014.
Chelsea sold the striker after a successful loan spell on Merseyside, and Everton would go on to make a huge profit when selling Lukaku to Man Utd for £75m in 2017.
4 Amadou Onana £33m from Lille
Another player who Everton made money on was midfielder Amadou Onana, who had a brief two-year spell at Goodison Park before joining Aston Villa.
Onana set Everton back £33m, but in 2024, they were receiving £50m from those at Villa Park.
3 Richarlison £40m from Watford
Richarlison swapped Watford for Everton in 2018, and the Brazilian striker scored more than 50 goals for the Blues in 153 games.
A £40m fee proved to be worth it for the Toffees, who cashed in on the forward four years later, with Tottenham paying them an initial £50m.
2 Tyler Dibling £42m from Southampton
Everton splashed the cash on teenage attacking midfielder Tyler Dibling in 2025, and the Toffees will be hoping he can go on to prove his worth on Merseyside.
Making the youngster the club’s second most expensive signing of all time appears to be a gamble, but there’s no denying Dibling’s creative ability.
1 Gylfi Sigurdsson £45m from Swansea
Top of the list as Everton’s record signing is Gylfi Sigurdsson, with the attacking midfielder costing a whopping £45m.
The Iceland international never really lived up to the billing, though, and after making more than 150 appearances, left as a free agent in 2022.
Sunderland fans must still be living in dreamland at the moment.
Putting all of their frantic summer transfer window activity to one side, Black Cats supporters will be firmly on cloud nine regarding their beloved team being back in the Premier League after pulling off a playoff final upset to down Chris Wilder’s heavily fancied Sheffield United.
Since that memorable success at Wembley, Sunderland has been linked with some monumental names and has picked up some terrific additions.
New midfield star Habib Diarra has arrived at the Stadium of Light for a club-record £30m, and the club has also nearly completed a deal for ex-Atletico Madrid defender Reinildo to join the ranks on a free transfer. The Mackems have also agreed a £17m move to sign Noah Sadiki. Talk about making a stamp in the transfer window.
Atletico Madrid'sReinildoMandava before the match
Regis Le Bris’ men won’t be stopping here, however, as a promising Premier League starlet is now tipped to make the switch to Wearside to boost Sunderland’s numbers even more.
Sunderland in race to sign Premier League starlet
As per a report by Football.London, the newly promoted side now find themselves in an intense race to snap up Chelsea youngster Ishe Samuels-Smith this summer.
It’s stated that the Stamford Bridge teenager is very highly rated by those at Enzo Maresca’s outfit, but the Blues want Samuels-Smith to gain more experience of the men’s game, away from solely playing on youth pitches in West London.
It’s clear that he is in Chelsea’s long-term plans when you further consider he penned a new contract recently stretching out until 2031. But, for now, it’s between the Black Cats, Rangers, Middlesbrough and Stoke for his coveted loan signature, with all four teams pushing to sign the youngster after holding club-to-club talks.
Sunderland’s well-known reputation for getting more out of youngsters – as seen in Jobe Bellingham now playing for German behemoth Borussia Dortmund after honing his craft on Wearside – could sway Chelsea’s decision-making here, with Samuels-Smith also potentially going down as a more exciting move to sign off on than Reinildo.
Reinildo Mandava for Atletico Madrid
Why Samuels-Smith is a more exciting signing than Reinildo
Whilst the Mozambique international does boast 25 Champions League appearances next to his name across his esteemed career to date, Sunderland have had great success in recent years when taking punts on up-and-coming starlets to come good.
Indeed, just last season saw the Black Cats win promotion with 17-year-old Chris Rigg at the heart of the operation, with the homegrown talent now up to seven strikes in total playing in the senior side, as four of those goals came about during Le Bris and Co’s promotion heroics.
1. Sunderland
22.4
2. Sunderland
22.7
3. Stoke City
22.7
4. Sunderland
22.9
5. Sunderland
22.9
It was seen all across the Frenchman’s various lineups last season, too, as shown looking at the table above, meaning the 19-year-old could go on to be another Rigg-like diamond for the Premier League new boys.
His numbers at youth level for Chelsea seem to push him in that direction too, with the Manchester-born defender helping himself to a promising seven assists from the left-back position across his 47 career appearances for both the Blues at U21 level and also his former side in Everton.
On the other hand, the incoming African has only managed to amass two goal contributions from the left-back spot across his entire senior career.
Of course, those were picked up in some more challenging environments than just youth football, but with Samuels-Smith also showing off an adaptable side to his game in the U21 scene by being capable of playing in the centre-back areas on top of slotting in as a left winger, it does feel as if this is a pick-up more in-keeping with Sunderland long-term, over acquiring the 30-year-old free agent.
Paris St Germain's Warren Zaire-Emery in action with Atletico Madrid'sReinildoMandava
While Reinildo will likely get more first-team minutes straight off the bat, Samuels-Smith has “incredible” potential, in the words of David Unsworth, and has been lauded as “one of England’s best [defensive] prospects” by analyst Ben Mattinson.
Therefore, do not rule out Sunderland working their magic on yet another teen sensation.
Biggest talent since Le Fee: Sunderland plotting to sign £21m “phenomenon”
Sunderland could soon seal a deal that’s even bigger than Enzo Le Fee’s statement addition.
Sunderland are now close to reaching an agreement over the signing of an “absolutely sensational” player, according to a key update from journalist Loic Jego.
Perhaps the major piece of Black Cats transfer business that has emerged recently is their pursuit of OGC Nice goalkeeper Marcin Bulka, who is considered a top summer target.
Sunderland are believed to be in talks with the 25-year-old over a move to the Stadium of Light, as Regis Le Bris strengthens his options between the sticks ahead of his side’s return to the Premier League in August.
A five-cap Poland international, Bulka has plenty of pedigree as a top-level player, and Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique is an admirer, calling him “superb” after coming up against him in Ligue 1.
Sunderland supporters will surely be keen on seeing the Pole complete a move to the club as soon as possible, and now a fresh update has emerged regarding their interest in him.
Sunderland close to agreement with Bulka
Now, according to Jego on X, an agreement between Sunderland and Bulka is now “imminent”, as the Black Cats close in on a new signing.
Marcin Bulka.
This is fantastic news for Sunderland, who know the importance of doing significant transfer business, in order to avoid a swift return to the Championship next season.
Bulka now has made 73 appearances in Ligue 1, as well as enjoying six Europa League outings, while scout Jacek Kulig has lauded the Nice stopper as an “absolutely sensational” goalkeeper.
In Anthony Patterson, Sunderland already have one excellent option in goal, with the Englishman such an influential presence last season, starting 45 of his side’s 46 Championship matches, but there have been teams sniffing around for his signature.
Competition for places is vital in the Premier League anyway however, and Le Bris will know that he has to be ruthless in leaving good players in reserve, assuming the latter stays at the club this summer.
He'd be amazing with Bulka: Sunderland in the race to sign £7m sensation
Sunderland could really improve their defensive options by landing this star alongside Marcin Bulka.
ByKelan Sarson Jun 27, 2025
Bulka feels like a signing of intent for Sunderland, and there is still plenty of time for the Black Cats to complete further business between now and the end of the transfer window.
It’s happened. It’s finally happened. Liverpool have agreed a deal with Bayer Leverkusen for the transfer of Florian Wirtz.
Though the saga feels to have dragged on somewhat over the past several weeks, sporting director Richard Hughes has been engineering a British-record deal, juggling other significant transfers besides.
While the minutiae still need to be sorted out, Liverpool have “verbally agreed a deal in principle”, reports transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, with a “move now imminent.”
Rumours pertaining to Luis Diaz’s summer sale are persisting, with Barcelona determined to get the deal over the line, and thus, the agreement has come at the perfect time.
Attacking midfield
163
51
57
Centre-forward
11
4
4
Right winger
11
4
3
Left winger
9
2
3
Central midfield
5
0
3
However, Wirtz isn’t really a wide player, even though his dribbling skills are among the finest in the business. Indeed, if the Colombian does go, FSG may need to dip their toes right back into the transfer market.
Why Liverpool want a winger
Diaz showcased his wonderful skills on international duty for Colombia. He scored a sensational solo goal, all fleet feet and party tricks to outplay the Argentine defenders, and perhaps reminded Liverpool fans that it would take some doing to find an upgrade.
Diaz is 28 and entering the next-to-last year of his Liverpool contract. Barcelona made a recent approach and were rebuffed, but their interest remains and Liverpool, while publicly stressing their desire to keep the winger, would entertain the right offer for sure.
It’s understood the Reds would entertain offers ranging between £60m and £70m this summer. Lowballers would find themselves incurring the wrath of Liverpool’s obstinance, with FSG willing to run down the South American’s contract, making use of the prime years of his career.
Liverpool forward Luis Diaz
However, if Liverpool do lose Diaz, they will need to find a replacement. Anthony Gordon’s name has floated about, but Slot and Richard Hughes seem to have an even better fit in mind.
Liverpool join race for star winger
As per Football Insider, Liverpool are interested in signing AC Milan’s Rafael Leao this summer; after the Serie A side’s wretched campaign, missing out on Europe, they may reluctantly sell.
With Liverpool’s scouts having kept a close eye on the 26-year-old, a deal may be forthcoming in the coming months, although a number of Premier League clubs – Arsenal have been namechecked – are also in the running. Milan would be looking to bank around £64m from the player’s sale.
Gordon has also been named as a potential option, but the Portuguese winger perhaps has a higher ceiling, and who better to help him reach it than Slot?
Why Liverpool want Rafael Leao
Ryan Gravenberch was crowned the Premier League’s Young Player of the Year for 2024/25, refashioned as he was into a deep-lying, counter-pressing number six.
Slot made his clock start ticking, a priceless success after FSG failed to convince the now Arsenal-bound Martin Zubimendi to leave his beloved mountains in the Basque Country (no bitterness at all from us Liverpool fans here).
Given the improvements Cody Gakpo underwent last term, Leao would be understood to want to leap at the chance to join Slot’s project.
AC Milan's RafaelLeaoduring the warm up
Praised for his “world-class ability” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Leao has been one of Italian football’s standout players for several years, hitting 12 goals and 13 assists across all competitions last season in spite of his side’s struggles.
In Serie A alone, Sofascore record that he has averaged 1.4 dribbles and key passes per fixture, as well as 4.5 successful duels per game.
Gordon’s no stranger to a combative sequence himself, but is it fair to say that Leao boasts more completeness in his application? Writer Theo Mwangi even went as far as to dub the Iberian native a “superstar” when he’s on his A-game.
Regressing in terms of output, Gordon might not have had the best year on Tyneside, but in 2023/24, he was awarded Newcastle’s Player of the Season award after notching 28 goal contributions across all competitions.
However, football is more than just goals and assists, especially for wingers (Diaz would be among the first to attest to that), and Leao has showcased across the past year a more robust and effective underlying skill set than that of his English counterpart.
Goals
0.32
0.22
Assists
0.26
0.18
Shots taken
2.37
2.11
Shot-creating actions
4.13
3.73
Touches (att pen)
6.15
4.73
Progressive passes
3.58
3.62
Progressive carries
4.74
4.47
Successful take-ons
2.83
1.41
Gordon might declare himself a “nightmare for anyone” he comes up against, but he needs to be more active and incisive with his natural skills, for Leao has thoroughly outstripped him since the beginning of the 2024/25 campaign.
Given that Newcastle would be looking for payment in the ballpark of £80m, it’s clear that Leao would be the better pick, cheaper and perhaps more suited to Slot’s intense playing style.
Both players need to hit richer veins of consistency to step up and become part of the true elite, but Diaz has been a bona fide success on Merseyside, and he’s not exactly blessed with the potency of Mohamed Salah.
FBref’s data has even drawn AC Milan’s star up as being a statistically similar player to Liverpool’s Colombian maverick, so replacing him with Leao seems like something of a no-brainer.
Liverpool have some thinking to do over the coming weeks. It’s worth reiterating that all this will only come into play if Diaz is sold – and if he is, there’s no better replacement out there than Leao.
He'd be better than Gyokeres: Liverpool hold talks to sign "the new Mbappe"
Liverpool are looking to sign a new striker in the transfer market this summer.
Leeds United have already been linked with plenty of potential signings in the summer transfer window, which opened for business last Sunday.
The Whites know that they will need to recruit well ahead of a season in the Premier League, and that has been reflected in the transfer links that have cropped up.
Leeds United manager DanielFarkebefore the match
Tottenham Hotspur central midfielder Yves Bissouma, Hamburg centre-forward Davie Selke, and Newcastle United number nine Callum Wilson are just three names that have been reported as targets for the club in recent days.
Whether or not the Whites will be able to get any of those deals over the line remains to be seen, though, as it is all speculation at this moment in time.
One player who has been linked with a move to Elland Road this summer is winger Manor Solomon, who spent the 2024/25 campaign on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.
Why Leeds should sign Manor Solomon permanently
It was reported last month that the Israel international would be interested in speaking to the club about a permanent move to West Yorkshire after his initial loan spell, but there has not been an update on Leeds making an official approach for him since then.
Leeds United'sManorSolomoncelebrates scoring their first goal
It could, though, make a lot of sense for the West Yorkshire outfit to pursue a deal to bring Solomon back to the club on a permanent basis, because of how well he performed in the Championship.
The 25-year-old wizard, who is heading into the peak years of his career, joined on loan from Spurs last summer and established himself as the first-choice option on the left flank for Daniel Farke on the way to the title.
Solomon showcased an ability to provide goals and assists on a regular basis from a left wing position, albeit he is largely unproven in the Premier League, with just four goals in 24 top-flight matches in his career to date.
Appearances
39
xG
8.15
Goals
10
Big chances created
21
Key passes per game
1.7
Assists
12
Dribbles completed per game
1.8
As you can see in the table above, the Spurs winger delivered 22 goals and assists in 39 appearances, which was a very respectable return for the forward.
This is why he could be an exciting addition for Leeds ahead of the Premier League season, as he has shown that he can provide plenty of quality in the final third in a Farke system.
However, Leeds are now being linked with another left-sided attacker who could come in as an even better signing than Solomon for Farke this summer.
Brazilian forward open to Leeds United transfer
According to LeedsLive, Feyenoord attacker Igor Paixao is open to a transfer to Leeds United in the summer transfer window, if an offer comes in for him.
The report claims that the Brazilian winger would be willing to consider a move to Elland Road if the club came in with personal terms that could convince him to make the switch.
Transfer Focus
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LeedsLive, however, adds that Leeds have yet to make contact over a deal for the Eredivisie sensation, which means that any transfer is still in the very early stages.
It has been reported earlier this summer that Feyenoord are reportedly looking for a fee of £34m for the 24-year-old winger, who has also been linked with a move to Brighton & Hove Albion.
Whilst the Whites have yet to make contact with the Dutch giants over a deal for the Brazilian wing wizard, it should come as good news that the player is open to making the move to Elland Road if the option is there this summer.
With this in mind, the 49ers could forget about Solomon, despite him still being an attractive target, by bringing Paixao in as an even better signing.
Why Igor Paixao would be better than Manor Solomon
Firstly, it is worth bearing in mind that Leeds are likely to be competing at the bottom end of the table, battling against relegation, in the Premier League.
This means that what their wingers can offer defensively will also be important, as they will need to track back to help their full-back out when the team is under pressure at times.
Igor Paixao for Feyenoord.
Solomon averaged 1.1 tackles and interceptions per game in the Championship this season, whilst Paixao averaged 1.7 tackles and interceptions per match in the Eredivisie. This suggests that the Brazilian star could offer more out of possession than the Spurs loanee did, by making more defensive interventions each game.
However, there is also the in-possession element of what they can offer in the Premier League, and the £34m-rated attacker’s performances in the Eredivisie suggest that he could be an exciting addition for Leeds.
Paixao delivered 18 goals and 14 assists in all competitions for Feyenoord this term, after a return of 12 goals and three assists in the 2023/24 campaign, and was particularly impressive in the Dutch top-flight.
Appearances
34
39
xG
10.56
8.15
Goals
16
10
Big chances created
12
21
Key passes per game
2.1
1.7
Assists
10
12
As you can see in the table above, the Leeds target produced more goals and assists combined and made more key passes per game than Solomon did for the Whites in the Championship, whilst playing in a top-flight European league instead of a second tier.
Paixao, dubbed an “electric” player by one scout on X, could arrive at Elland Road to provide a greater threat in front of goal, particularly as a goalscorer, than the Israel international.
Neither of them are entirely proven in the Premier League, though, but the Feyenoord star’s output in a respected European league in the Netherlands suggests that he would be an even better signing than Solomon.
Way better than Aaronson: Leeds eyeing move for "infectious" EFL "standout"
Leeds United are reportedly interested in signing a star who would be way better than Brenden Aaronson.
ByDan Emery May 30, 2025
It is now down to Leeds to take advantage of the winger reportedly being open to a move to Elland Road to win the race for his signature before the end of the summer transfer window to bolster Farke’s squad.