da dobrowin： Tottenham Hotspur need to reinforce multiple areas of the squad this summer, especially in preparation for their first campaign back in the Champions League since Antonio Conte’s time in charge.

Tottenham plan transfers now that Ange's fate is sealed

da casino： Before their triumph against Man United in the Europa League final, trusted media sources like The Telegraph reported that the north Londoners were set for a ‘sell to buy’ summer.

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However, after Ange Postecoglou ended the club’s 17-year wait for a piece of silverware and secured Tottenham their first European trophy since 1984, things are looking a lot more positive in the transfer market.

Tottenham’s best-performing regulars in the Premier League – 2024/2025

Average match rating

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

Unfortunately for Postecoglou, this wasn’t enough for the Australian to keep his job, with Spurs announcing on Friday afternoon that they’ve decided to part company.

His parting gift to supporters was an historic night in Bilbao and an undoubted boost when it comes to their club’s transfer activity, even if Postecoglou himself won’t be around to bear the fruits of his labor after a torrid domestic campaign.

Spurs actually have a lot of wiggle room when it comes to PSR, which was with or without Champions League qualification. The Athletic even suggested recently that chairman Daniel Levy could spend £200 million this summer and still be in line with financial regulations.

The issue actually lies in whether they have the cash to pull off mega-money investment into the squad, but with their Champions League status now confirmed, Spurs are set for a much more “comfortable” summer with the incoming cash-flow from competing in Europe’s most prestigious competition.

Sky Sports recently claimed that Tottenham will prioritise the signing of a new forward and midfielder, if Cristian Romero stays. But, if the Argentine does end up leaving, most likely to Atletico Madrid, their need for a centre-back will suddenly increase ten-fold.

The Lilywhites have identified targets in the event Romero does depart N17, with Genoa defender Koni de Winter attracting interest from Tottenham as one option, according to some reports in Italy.

Another very intriguing possibility is a deal for Inter Milan defender Yann Bisseck.

The Germany international was a regular under former Inter boss Simone Inzaghi last season, playing 46 matches in all competitions, and featured in almost all of their Champions League matches en route to their final defeat against PSG.

Tottenham have been pushing to sign Inter Milan defender Yann Bisseck

According to a report in Italian newspaper Tuttosport, via Calciomercato.it, the 24-year-old is “increasingly close” to leaving San Siro.

The prospect of him following Inzaghi out of the door is a very realistic one, and they claim that Tottenham have been pushing hard to sign Bisseck this summer given his availability.

They also moot the hint at the potential for a player exchange, with the Nerazzurri said to hold a serious interest in Radu Dragusin, although this is just a “hypothesis” with no real movement on that possibility just yet.

He would be affordable from Levy’s perspective, as other Serie A reports suggest Inter have set an asking price of around £34 million. Bisseck has been called a “diamond” by members of the Italian media, with the Bundesliga’s official website also comparing him to Micky van de Ven.

“He’s also making a name for himself with the way he’s playing,” said Inzaghi about Bisseck. “My technical staff and I have faith in him. He must continue to work in this way.”

da pinnacle： Russell Martin was officially unveiled as the new head coach of Glasgow Rangers earlier this month, and he is tasked with bringing glory back to Ibrox.

da casino： The Light Blues have not won the Scottish Premiership title for four years and ended the 2024/25 campaign without a single trophy to show for their efforts.

Martin and Kevin Thelwell must build a team that can challenge Celtic for the title next season, and there is already work going on behind the scenes to bring in fresh recruits.

Southampton’s Aaron Ramsdale, Leicester’s Conor Coady, and Swansea’s Harry Darling are just a few of the reported targets that the Gers boss is looking to snap up from the English market that he is familiar with.

Whilst they are in the market to improve the defence, with those two centre-backs and a goalkeeper, Rangers must also bolster their attacking options before the window slams shut.

They confirmed earlier this summer that Ianis Hagi’s contract would not be renewed, making him a free agent this summer, and his exit will leave a hole to fill.

Why losing Ianis Hagi is a blow for Rangers

Allowing the Romania international to move on from Ibrox was a bold decision and one that means the Gers have lost a proven Premiership performer who provided quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

Hagi, who returned to the fold under Philippe Clement during the first half of the 2024/25 campaign, after spending the previous year on loan at Alaves in Spain, caught the eye with his performances off the left flank or as an attacking midfielder.

The 26-year-old, as shown in the clip above, stepped up in big moments for the Scottish giants and Martin is going to need to find another wide attacker who can make a similar impact at the top end of the pitch.

Losing a quality player on a free transfer also means that the Gers may need to make sales in other positions in order to raise the funds to sign a replacement, as it will not be easy to find a star of Hagi’s quality.

24/25 Premiership

Ianis Hagi

Starts

16

Goals

4

Big chances created

6

Assists

5

Key passes per 90

2.5

Assists per 90

0.3

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Romanian magician was particularly impressive as a creator, but also showed his class as a goalscorer for the Light Blues.

This is why it is so important for Martin to recruit a new winger, or attacking midfielder, who has the potential to deliver goal contributions on a regular basis next season.

With this in mind, the former Scotland international should push the club to seriously pursue a deal to sign one of their reported transfer targets, Leeds United ace Largie Ramazani.

Rangers' reported interest in Largie Ramazani

At the start of this month, TEAMtalk claimed that Rangers are interested in a swoop to sign the Belgian winger from the Championship champions during the summer transfer window.

The outlet reported that the Scottish giants have ‘emerged’ as possible suitors to land the former Almeria flanker, who signed for Leeds for a fee of £10m in the summer of 2024.

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It added, however, that Rangers were simply monitoring the situation and that a transfer was not at any advanced stage, to which there has not been any update in the subsequent few weeks.

TEAMtalk claimed that Daniel Farke had not made a final decision on the attacker’s future at Elland Road, because he would like to see how the winger does in pre-season before making the call, which suggests that the Gers may have to play the long game with Ramazani.

If the Light Blues can eventually get a deal done for the Belgian star, whether that is a loan or a permanent move, then Martin could have a brilliant replacement for Hagi in the building, as he is also a left-sided attacker who can also play centrally.

Why Rangers should sign Largie Ramazani

Martin should sign Ramazani for Rangers as a perfect replacement for the Romania international because his performances for Leeds in the 2024/25 campaign suggest that he has the potential to explode as a regular starter in Scotland.

The former Manchester United academy graduate first made a name for himself with Almeria, scoring 22 goals in 128 matches, before his move to Leeds last year.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig even compared him to Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior and described the Belgian sensation as an “explosive” forward who can be a “counter attacking weapon” for his team.

Ramazani did not get too many opportunities to showcase that quality in the Championship this term, starting seven of his 29 appearances, but the 24-year-old whiz caught the eye in his limited minutes on the pitch.

24/25 Championship

Largie Ramazani per 90

Percentile rank vs wingers

Non-penalty xG

0.54

Top 2%

Shots on target

1,84

Top 2%

Goals

0.69

Top 2%

Assists

0.23

Top 20%

Chances created

1.50

Top 32%

Dribbles completed

2.07

Top 15%

Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, the Leeds winger ranked very highly among his positional peers in a host of key attacking metrics as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

Ramazani ended the season with six goals and two assists in the league, despite starting just seven times, which speaks to the kind of quality he could provide Rangers with if they give him an opportunity to play week-in-week-out as a starter.

This suggests that the Gers target could perfectly replace Hagi, as another right-footed forward who can play off the left or centrally in a number ten role, whilst he can also play on the right if needed.

Ramazani has the quality, as shown by his spell in Spain and his impressive performances in limited game time in England, to fill the hole that Hagi’s release has left at Ibrox.

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It is now down to Martin and Thelwell to seal a deal for the Whites attacker if Farke decides to make him available for a transfer in the coming weeks.

da luck： Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta personally wants the Gunners to seal a statement signing before summer deadline day on September 1, and they’ve been alerted to the marquee costs of a potential deal.

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da bwin： It is absolutely imperative that the new sporting director, Andrea Berta, starts making progress soon when it comes to the club’s key forward targets, and in an ideal world, Arteta would be able to work with them for pre-season.

Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports)

Money on new signings

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

According to some reports, Arteta personally wants Arsenal to bring in their desired new striker in time for their tour of Asia late next month, with the Spaniard seemingly keen to assess his squad in detail ahead of another Premier League title race.

Alongside their chase for a new number nine, links are also seriously re-emerging in regard to a potential swoop for Real Madrid star Rodrygo.

Arsenal held some talks over signing the Brazil international last month, and between “all parties”, meaning both club officials and the player’s representatives were involved in discussions over a switch to the Premier League.

Rodrygo has bagged 14 goals and 11 assists throughout 2024/2025, including their Club World Cup campaign, and teammate Jude Bellingham is convinced that the 24-year-old is Real’s most underrated player.

“Rodrygo, so underrated,” Bellingham said to CBS Sports.

“For me he’s probably the most talented and most gifted player in the squad. The things he can do with the football — we’ll be messing around and he’ll flick the ball up somehow, and you’re like, ‘How do you do that?’. I’m trying to do it, twisting up my ankles and everything like that. He’s a pleasure to play with.”

Mikel Arteta personally wants Arsenal to sign Rodrygo

According to CaughtOffside and journalist Mark Brus, though, Los Blancos ideally want around £94 million for their top talent – even if there is a theory behind-the-scenes that they could accept closer to £72 million.

This, combined with Rodrygo’s £205,000-per-week wages, would surely make him one of the most expensive signings of the summer in terms of overall cost – but it is an option now under serious consideration by Arsenal due to Nico Williams’ pending switch to Barcelona.

Arteta personally wants Arsenal to strike a deal for Rodrygo over the coming months, and he is believed to be a big fan of the South American who Xabi Alonso would ideally like to keep at the Bernabeu.

Man United and Chelsea are named as other suitors for the ex-Santos star, so this could potentially drive the price up even more.

da mrbet： Glasgow Rangers could soon get the chance to bring a Champions League striker to Ibrox, with the forward in question open to the idea of a potential Gers move.

Rangers forwards Dessers and Igamane linked with Ibrox exits

da betcris： Russell Martin is the man tasked by the 49ers Enterprises with bringing Scottish Premiership glory back to Ibrox, and the Gers are also looking to qualify for the Champions League, starting with next months qualifier against Greek side Panathinaikos.

However, Martin could be without some star attackers for the two-legged European clash at the end of July, with Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane both mooted to leave Glasgow this summer.

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Dessers could end up moving to Greece with AEK Athens after agreeing a £30,000-a-week contract, however, the two clubs are yet to shake hands on a fee with the Gers rejecting a £4.5m offer.

Meanwhile, Igamane has agreed personal terms with Ligue 1 side Lille over a Rangers exit, and like Dessers, there is still work to be done over reaching an agreement on a fee.

Should both depart, then reinforcements will be required in the final third ahead of the 2025/26 season, and by the looks of things, one man is keen on the idea of joining Lyall Cameron and Max Aarons through the Ibrox door.

Luuk de Jong “open” to Rangers move

According to reports from the Netherlands, relayed by The Daily Record, experienced striker Luuk de Jong would be “open” to a move to Rangers this summer.

The 34-year-old is on course to become a free agent when his PSV Eindhoven contract expires at the end of the month, and there is hesitation over new terms, with Ricardo Pepi set to be first-choice striker next season.

After three years with PSV, De Jong captained the Dutch side throughout the 24/25 season, including in the Champions League.

A Netherlands international, De Jong’s future is up in the air and Rangers are ‘touted as an interested party’, something he could be open to as he reaches the twilight years of his career.

De Jong’s goalscoring career

Games

Goals

PSV Eindhoven

338

186

FC Twente

121

59

Sevilla

94

19

Borussia Monchengladbach

45

8

Barcelona

29

7

The Doetinchem District Council

19

3

Newcastle United

12

0

Netherlands

39

8

As can be seen, De Jong, who stands at 6 foot 2, has scored goals in the Netherlands, Spain and Germany during his career, so he could be a shrewd addition who would provide plenty of experience for Martin.

Former Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman even labelled De Jong as “more dangerous than Neymar” for his threat in the air, and during his career, the striker has scored 113 headed goals.

“When there’s a cross coming in, Luuk is more dangerous than Neymar. He’s a different kind of forward to what we have, and I think all teams should have one like him.”

da brwin： Liverpool are the reigning Premier League champions, but like most of the division’s elite clubs, they still aren’t satisfied with their current attacking options.

da leao： With Darwin Nunez looking set to seal a move to Napoli, the need for a new number nine has only been heightened even further, with the Reds having been stung by that club-record mistake.

With Luiz Diaz’s future uncertain, amid interest from Bayern Munich, Arne Slot is in real need of a new attacking figurehead, even after Florian Wirtz’s £116m arrival.

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Amid that ongoing striker search, we’ve asked the AI tool ChatGPT to predict which of the Anfield’s targets would score the most goals for the club next season, provided they stay injury-free…

Hugo Ekitike – 16–18 Premier League goals

The latest update regarding Liverpool’s interest in Eintracht Frankfurt forward Hugo Ekitike is that they are “exploring” a move for him, in the event that Nunez is able to secure an expected exit in the coming weeks.

Formerly of Paris Saint-Germain, the £85m man – who can operate off the left flank – ended 2024/25 with 22 goals to his name in all competitions, with 15 of those coming in the Bundesliga.

Still only 23, ChatGPT believes that the Merseysiders would have to “expect a reasonable adjustment period” if the Frenchman were to sign, although “his mobile, press-savvy style aligns well with Arne Slot’s transition-heavy approach”.

Alexander Isak – 20–23 Premier League goals

The dream that won’t go away, not even amid the prospect of a £150m price tag.

Yes, it’s no secret that Liverpool’s first-choice option would be Alexander Isak, with the Newcastle United talisman having scored 44 Premier League goals across the last two seasons combined for the Magpies.

Although the evidence points to the Swede staying put at St James’ Park, although if a deal can be agreed, ChatGPT expects the 25-year-old to continue that momentum at Anfield, as Slot’s “high tempo, fluid front three [is] suited to Isak’s movement, finishing, and aerial presence”.

Viktor Gyokeres – 29–31 Premier League goals

Isak may be the name on everybody’s lips, although it would appear that Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres might actually be the better option – if Liverpool can edge out Arsenal in the race for his signature, that is.

The Gunners have even reportedly agreed personal terms with the former Coventry City man, although those at Anfield aren’t out of the frame just yet, with competition rife for a player who has scored 97 goals in just 102 games in Portugal.

Top Scorers – Top 10 Leagues (24/25)

#

Player

Apps

Goals

1.

Viktor Gyokeres

33

39

2.

Kylian Mbappe

34

31

3.

Mohamed Salah

38

29

4.

Robert Lewandowski

34

27

5.

Harry Kane

31

26

Data via Transfermarkt

Yet to enjoy a taste of Premier League football, having failed to get a look in at Brighton and Hove Albion in the past, there are likely to be doubts over the Swede’s ability to hit the ground running back in England.

Well, ChatGPT has no such worries, suggesting the 27-year-old is “perfect” for Slot’s set-up, as he is “mobile, press-focused, [and] lethal in and around the box”. He could potentially even reach Mohamed Salah levels of goalscoring…

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da realbet： Manchester United are beginning to lay their transfer priorities on the table and have stepped up their interest in a key target at Old Trafford, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Man Utd finalise Bryan Mbeumo deal

da dobrowin： There have been weeks of speculation surrounding Bryan Mbeumo’s move to Manchester United from Brentford. However, he has now arrived at Carrington and is set to seal a transfer to the Theatre of Dreams imminently.

The Cameroon star is set to bolster Ruben Amorim’s attack for a fee that could reach £71 million, inclusive of add-ons, and Romano has delivered the decisive news that he will officially join the Red Devils in time for the Premier League Summer Series.

In light of Liam Delap and Joao Pedro coming in at Chelsea, Manchester United have also turned their attention to Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson after missing out on Hugo Ekitike and Viktor Gyokeres.

Despite his £100 million valuation, Jason Wilcox is keen to cut a deal at a more affordable figure if the Senegal international is permitted to leave Stamford Bridge permanently.

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Modern-day transfers take a different form when it comes to their structure. Manchester United are reported to have agreed personal terms with Valencia midfielder Javier Guerra. Still, it remains to be seen whether they can reach a club-to-club arrangement on a fee.

Entering a transitional period following a poor showing last year, the Red Devils will look to offload several fringe players to ensure they can recruit new personnel without violating PSR regulations.

Truly, it feels like there is nobody off-limits bar a select few, so it will come as no surprise to hear Amorim is keen on adding competition to an area that has proved problematic in recent years.

Romano: Man Utd make contact regarding Senne Lammens

According to world-renowned transfer reporter Romano, Manchester United have made “initial contact” to be informed on Royal Antwerp goalkeeper Senne Lammens’ situation, and the 23-year-old is said to be on their “main” shortlist if Amorim chooses to change tact between the sticks.

Aston Villa stopper Emiliano Martinez is another name being closely watched, albeit any move for the Argentina international would come at a greater financial cost.

Putting Andre Onana’s future in doubt, Lammens kept 10 clean sheets in 44 appearances last term across all competitions, conceding 56 goals.

Labelled “exciting” by Football Talent Scout – Jacek Kulig, the 23-year-old maintained a save percentage of 81.9% over the last 365 days relative to his peers and is a rising star who could be a future number one at Old Trafford for years to come.

However, you get the feeling any deal would be reliant on Onana moving elsewhere, which may create a waiting game for all concerned.

da apostaganha： Manchester United are now in talks to sign an “exciting” forward, who has even been likened to former Liverpool man Sadio Mane, according to a report.

Man Utd eyeing low-cost additions to the squad

da betsul： After missing out on the Champions League last season, Man United will have to err on the side of caution in the transfer market, and having already shelled out around £133m this summer, they may not have much room left to manoeuvre.

New signing

Position

Transfer fee

Bryan Mbeumo

Winger

£65m

Matheus Cunha

Second striker

£64m

Diego Leon

Left-back

£3.5m

The Red Devils were also left frustrated by Brentford playing hardball over the transfer of Mbeumo, with their Premier League rivals raising their asking price during negotiations, which means they may have ended up paying slightly over the odds.

As a result, it would make sense if the remaining additions to the squad were on the cheaper side, and United have now entered talks for a forward, who is set to be available for a bargain fee.

That is according to a report from France (via Sport Witness), which states Man United have entered negotiations with the entourage of FC Metz forward Idrissa Gueye.

Gueye is expected to leave Metz this summer, despite the French side achieving their goal of promotion to Ligue 1 last season, and they are looking to receive a fee close to €15m (£13m), amid widespread interest in his signature.

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The Metz ace is thought to have 10 or more suitors, including the likes of Borussia Dortmund, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton, so the Red Devils could have a battle on their hands trying to get a deal over the line.

"Exciting" Gueye likened to Mane

While he enjoyed the best years of his career at United’s bitter rivals, Liverpool, there is no denying that Mane was a top-quality forward, scoring 120 goals in 269 games for the Reds, and there is a belief the 18-year-old is a similar type of player.

The teenager has been likened to his compatriot, with journalist Alan Nixon adding the youngster is “rated as highly as Sadio Mane was”, indicating he could be capable of going on to be one of the Premier League’s top forwards.

Unlike Mane, however, the Senegalese starlet’s main position is striker, and he enjoyed an impressive debut campaign with Metz in Ligue 2, picking up five goals and one assist in 17 games, with scout Ben Mattinson lauding him as “exciting”.

Given that Gueye is yet to prove himself at a high level, however, Man United will also need to bring in a proven top-level striker, and they have now opened talks to sign RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.

da betcris： Whilst Benjamin Sesko continues to steal the headlines, Manchester United have now reportedly joined the race alongside Tottenham Hotspur to sign a teenage sensation.

Newcastle take advantage in Sesko race

da heads bet： Although initial reports indicated that Sesko is likely to favour a move to Manchester United this summer, it is now Newcastle United in the driving seat heading towards the forward’s signature. According to reports, the Magpies have taken pole position and have submitted a bid worth £70m to match RB Leipzig’s price tag.

As Sky Sports’ Keith Downie reported, however, there is still a chance for Manchester United if they decide to match or better Newcastle’s offer. Sesko is still open to both projects and, as ever this summer, there’s still every opportunity for a transfer hijack to take place.

Ruben Amorim would certainly welcome the chance to complete his revamped frontline too. So far, both Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha have arrived to kick things off, but it’s clear that the addition of a star striker would truly round things off.

Of course, what may not help their pursuit of Sesko or an alternative option is the fact that Rasmus Hojlund is keen to stay and fight for his place rather than leave to fund his replacement.

He told reporters after scoring in Man United’s 4-1 victory over Bournemouth in pre-season: “The most important [thing] for me is to keep working hard and stay focused and then we’ll see what happens. My plan is very clear and that is for me to stay and fight for my spot.”

Man Utd now chasing teenage sensation

Whilst it won’t steal the same headlines as Sesko, those at Old Trafford are still chasing one particular incoming. According to Expressen, as relayed by Sport Witness, Manchester United are now racing Tottenham Hotspur to sign Kevin Filling from AIK Fotboll.

The 16-year-old talent has impressed the Premier League duo, who are now looking to secure his signature despite the fact that they will be unable to welcome the forward on an official basis until 2028 when he turns 18.

Unlike in the Sesko saga, however, Manchester United could hold a key advantage thanks to INEOS. The United owners also hold a majority stake in FC Lausanne-Sport and they want to sign Filling then send him on loan to the Swedish club.

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In one swift move, INEOS could land a deal that benefits two of their clubs, with those at Old Trafford eventually reaping the rewards by welcoming a player who’s full of potential.

Filling is also a player who has already made his mark on senior football. The teenage gem enjoyed a dream debut for AIK in the Allsvenskan league, scoring in his first game to once again showcase his talent to the likes of Manchester United and Spurs.

da poker： As Celtic gear up for yet another title defence, Brendan Rodgers now reportedly believes that they hold a key advantage in the race to sign an impressive midfield star.

Rodgers still aiming to "push" for arrivals

da marjack bet： Despite welcoming as many as six fresh faces following another dominant Scottish Premiership campaign last time out, Rodgers admitted that he’s still pushing the Celtic board to secure more additions.

He told reporters: “We have gaps in the squad that are very clear. I have to convince the board to really push to get the players in that we really need. Clearly, I’m not doing that job well enough, but I will continue to push and hopefully we can get the players in by the end of the transfer window.”

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“When you lose important players, you want to fill those gaps. That attacking department is the strength of my team. It always will be. We were very, very good last year in that front in terms of both the score and both the creativity.

“I’m fairly confident that we will do the business that will fill those gaps and with the necessary quality that’s needed to keep the team moving forward, because that’s what we all want. That’s what the supporters want. They want to see a team that’s exciting and that can dominate games and really attack games and that’s our goal.”

Just who those additions will be is the question. It looks as though the Bhoys are at least set to welcome Manchester City youngster Jahmai Simpson-Pusey on loan, but that’s not to say other targets have fallen away from their radar.

Those at Celtic Park have also reportedly set their sights on winning the race to land a bargain deal in the next month and Rodgers believes that they hold one key advantage over the rest of the chasing pack.

Rodgers believes Celtic have advantage in Brownhill race

According to Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, Rodgers believes that Celtic have the advantage in the race to sign Josh Brownhill this summer thanks to their Champions League place. Whilst the likes of West Ham United and Everton chase his signature, the Bhoys will be able to offer the 29-year-old his first taste of Europe’s elite.

Dubbed “brilliant” by Burnley boss Scott Parker, Brownhill represents one of the few bargain deals still on the market and one that Celtic should go all out to snap up this month.

da roleta： Arne Slot has spoken to the media ahead of Liverpool’s curtain-raising Community Shield clash against Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon, and he has confirmed that he cannot rule out further summer signings.

da bet nacional： The Anfield side won the Premier League at a canter last season, but who can claim that they have since rested on their laurels? Liverpool are intent on defending their throne and widening the scope of the Slot era, with further prizes certainly eyed.

Alexander Isak’s name has stolen the headlines for some time now, and understandably so. But there’s little question that the prow of the ship isn’t the only area in need of investment before the end of the transfer window.

Namely, Liverpool need a central defender, having shown their hand on that front way back in May, when they pushed to sign Bournemouth prodigy Dean Huijsen before the 20-year-old joined Real Madrid once his £50m release clause was activated.

Why Liverpool want a centre-back

Last month, Jarell Quansah was sold to Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth £35m. The English talent is highly regarded, but it didn’t quite work out under Slot’s wing last season, and cashing in (with a buyback clause inserted) was probably a prudent move.

Having said that, Joe Gomez has since sustained a minor Achilles injury; the blow won’t sideline the 28-year-old for an extended period, but it does highlight the fragility of Virgil van Dijk’s defensive line.

Van Dijk extended his Liverpool contract by two years before the end of last season, but the captain has now turned 34, and the inevitability of an athletic decline will begin to take a seat in Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes’ mind.

Then there’s Ibrahima Konate, who marks a pressure point himself. The France defender is into the final year of his £70k-per-week contract at Anfield, and with Real Madrid lurking, there is a growing sense of dread that he will follow Trent Alexander-Arnold’s footsteps and join the European nemeses on a Bosman.

In any case, Liverpool need to sign a centre-back this month.

Liverpool lining up new defender

According to Football Insider, Liverpool have learned that a bid in the region of £40m should be enough to convince Crystal Palace to sell Marc Guehi this summer.

Liverpool believe Guehi would be a fantastic addition to a backline looking rather thin, but since the 25-year-old has entered the final year of his contract, Hughes is unwilling to pay over the odds.

However, with Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur both interested too, the Reds might want to bite the bullet and lodge a first formal offer, lest Guehi end up elsewhere.

Why Liverpool want Marc Guehi

Guehi has been a pillar of strength and solidity for Crystal Palace over the past four years, joining the club from Chelsea for an £18m fee after graduating from their famed academy, though failing to get his foot through the first-team door.

He’s a “monster in defence”, as has been noted by Eagles reporter Bobby Manzi, but Guehi is also a fiercely underrated technician, with the passing game to make a real difference for Liverpool over the coming years.

As per FBref, he ranked among the top 9% of centre-halves across Europe’s top five leagues last term for goal contributions, the top 12% for shot-creating actions, the top 2% for through balls, and the top 20% for successful take-ons per 90.

His completeness even suggests that he would be the perfect partner for Van Dijk over the next few years, bringing energy and mobility to the backline, and a forward-thinking approach besides.

Prem 24/25 – Guehi vs Van Dijk vs Konate

Stats (* per game)

Guehi

Van Dijk

Konate

Matches (starts)

34 (34)

37 (37)

31 (30)

Goals

3

3

1

Assists

2

1

2

Clean sheets

11

14

11

Touches*

64.9

90.4

71.6

Pass completion

84%

92%

90%

Key passes*

0.5

0.3

0.3

Ball recoveries*

4.3

3.1

3.2

Dribbles*

0.4

0.1

0.1

Tackles + interceptions*

2.6

2.5

1.7

Clearances*

4.6

5.1

4.0

Duels (won)*

4.9 (59%)

4.7 (69%)

4.4 (66%)

Errors made

2

4

3

All data via Sofascore

As you can see from the table, Guehi hardly looks out of place when his data is ranked alongside Van Dijk and Konate’s efforts last season, and that’s having starred for Crystal Palace, instead of title-winning Liverpool.

Curiously, the Three Lions star made fewer mistakes than both of his world-class positional peers, something that Slot and Liverpool’s data analysts have no doubt picked up.

It’s hardly surprising that journalist and scout Ben Mattinson had hailed Guehi as “England’s best player” following their EURO 2024 campaign, so commanding in defence and cultured on the ball.

Though Van Dijk is more precise in the duel (Konate is too), Guehi has the kind of multi-faceted defensive skill set that is so important for top-challenging teams in the modern age.

He captained Oliver Glasner’s side toward the FA Cup title last season, beating Manchester City in the final at Wembley, did he not?

By adding this profile to the mix, Slot would rest assured that Van Dijk has the perfect partner to continue plying his craft so superlatively, leading the team and organising, timing crunching challenges and steely headers when the situation demands it.

In an ideal world, Konate renews his contract and Liverpool attack the upcoming campaign with three of the Premier League’s finest centre-backs in their ranks.

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The club’s Netherlands superstar remains the cream of the crop, but he’s not a spring chicken anymore, and bringing in another athletic and dynamic profile could prove the perfect recipe for Slot to achieve his lofty ambitions.

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