Incoming Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is now intent on signing a “world-class” duo in the summer transfer window, according to a report.
Berta drawing up plans for the summer
Although Berta is yet to be officially announced as the Gunners’ new sporting director, there have been suggestions the Italian has already started identifying a number of potential targets ahead of the summer transfer window.
The 53-year-old is believed to be a huge fan of Atletico Madrid midfielder Pablo Barrios, as a result of the time they spent working together at the La Liga club, while he will also try to sign Newcastle United star Bruno Guimaraes.
The north Londoners are now in talks over a deal for Guimaraes, with Berta ‘in love’ with the Brazilian after trying to sign him for Atlético Madrid on a number of occasions.
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As such, the 27-year-old has now emerged as a key target for Arsenal, which could perhaps indicate Martin Zubimendi is no longer as high up the list, but a new report from GiveMeSport suggests otherwise.
According to the report, Berta is still intent on signing Zubimendi this summer, with the former Atlético Madrid man particularly keen on the Spaniard, alongside Wolverhampton Wanderers star Matheus Cunha.
Cunha provides a goal threat and creativity in attack, which makes the Brazilian a necessary addition to Mikel Arteta’s frontline, but he will not come cheap, given that he has a £62m release clause included in his contract.
Wolverhampton Wanderers'MatheusCunhain action with AFC Bournemouth's Marcus Tavernier and Lewis Cook
Previous reports have stated Zubimendi will be a little cheaper at £51m, meaning Arsenal may have to shell out the huge sum of £113m to get the two deals over the line.
However, it is also detailed that Arteta’s side could listen to offers for Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli this summer, which may boost their budget significantly.
Zubimendi and Cunha could be "world-class" additions
Cunha has shown signs of year-on-year development since signing for Wolves, having already beaten his Premier League goal tally from last season by netting 13 times in 26 appearances this term, while also providing four assists.
The Brazil international has thus been hailed as “world-class” by members of the media, and Kieran Tierney has stated Zubimendi is in the same category.
“You have world-class players like [Martín] Zubimendi, [Mikel] Merino, Brais [Méndez]. It’s not that people don’t think they’re good; it’s just that if you’re only watching the Premier League every week, it’s hard to know. They’re world class.”
As such, the duo could be fantastic signings for Arsenal this summer, but Cunha should be Arteta’s priority, given that the manager is light on out-and-out centre-forwards, and the 25-year-old has proven himself as a reliable goalscorer in the Premier League.
Manchester United face Leicester City at the King Power Stadium later on tonight, looking to build on the Europa League triumph over Real Sociedad on Thursday evening.
Ruben Amorim’s side are looking to make it four games unbeaten in the Premier League, after two draws and a win against Everton, Arsenal and Ipswich Town, respectively.
It will be the fourth time the two sides have met throughout 2024/25, with the Red Devils winning the other league clash this campaign with victories in the Carabao and FA Cup.
However, the manager may have some selection decisions to make if they are to extend their unbeaten run, helping end the season on a high after enduring a dismal campaign to date.
He will certainly be without one player for the trip to the East Midlands, with one first-team regular currently serving a suspension after picking up a red card a couple of weeks ago.
Patrick Dorgu’s suspension for Leicester City
Left-back Patrick Dorgu impressed massively during the win over Real Sociedad, looking like the player they decided to splash £30m on in the January transfer window.
However, the 20-year-old won’t be available for the clash with the Foxes this evening, serving the second of his three-game ban for his straight red card received in the win over Ipswich.
The Dane missed the clash with Arsenal last week, but his absence may be felt more tonight, given his impressive showing against the Spanish outfit a couple of days ago.
With Luke Shaw still out injured and Tyrell Malacia spending the remainder of the campaign out on loan, options are limited within the defensive department.
As a result, Amorim could look to start one player in an unfamiliar role, looking to follow in the footsteps of one player who previously impressed in his new position.
The player who could solve Amorim’s wing-back dilemma
Amad Diallo hasn’t featured since the last clash with the Foxes at the start of February, potentially missing the rest of the campaign with an ankle issue.
However, before his setback, Amorim often utilised the Ivorian in a slightly deeper wing-back role rather than his preferred attacking position, managing to get the best out of the youngster in the process.
The 22-year-old has managed to register 12 combined goals and assists since the former Sporting CP boss’s appointment, thriving with added minutes in the first team.
However, Amorim could look to replicate such success by unleashing Alejandro Garnacho in a similar position on the opposite flank, potentially allowing the Argentine to spark into life under the new manager.
The 20-year-old has only registered four combined goal contributions this calendar year, struggling to adapt to Amorim’s demands of operating in a more central role rather than his preferred wide position.
Whilst it may seem like a far-fetched idea, the young “game-changer” – as described by journalist Samuel Luckhurst – has all of the tools to operate in such a role, having the energy to get up and down the line, with his stats showing the impact he can have at both ends.
In the Premier League throughout 2024/25, Garnacho has averaged 1.1 successful dribbles and created 1.3 chances per 90 – showcasing the impact he can have when marauding into forward areas.
Games played
27
Goals & assists
4
Pass accuracy
83%
Successful dribbles
1.1
Chances created
1.3
Duels won
4.1
Tackle success rate
65%
He’s also won 4.1 duels per 90, along with a 65% tackle success rate, having the defensive capabilities to regain possession should he need to when the side are without the ball.
Given the form of Amad in a similar position, it could be a great opportunity for the manager to start the academy graduate in a new role – offering added versatility to the side in the process.
Leicester’s lowly league standing could allow for one or two risks to be taken, with Amorim having the perfect chance to work his magic by utilising an attacker in a wing-back role, which could get the best out of his game after a stuttering few months.
Man Utd have hit gold on "phenomenal" ace who cost even less than Heaven
Manchester United have hit the jackpot on one player who signed for less than Ayden Heaven.
Crystal Palace have confirmed the departure of sporting director Dougie Freedman, and now the Eagles are eyeing up a controversial move in a bid to replace him, according to a recent report.
Freedman leaves Selhurst Park for Saudi Arabia
The 50-year-old has been with the South Londoners since 2017 and has been at the heart of their recent success off the pitch in terms of bringing players such as Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi, Adam Wharton, and Dean Henderson to the club.
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Freedman was linked with moves to Manchester United and Newcastle United in the past to take up similar roles, but he remained at Crystal Palace and continued to work with Steve Parish. However, on Monday, that came to an end, as he has now left his role at Palace to take up a role overseas, believed to be in Saudi Arabia.
Palace confirmed Freedman’s departure in a statement on their official website, in which Freedman also spoke and stated how much of an “honour” it had been to work at Palace, and he is “incredibly proud” of the work that has been done. “I would like to extend my thanks to Steve Parish, the other owners and to all the staff, managers and players who have been at the club during my time here. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed learning from and working alongside you all.
“It’s been an honour to represent the club, and I am incredibly proud of the work that’s been done, with the Chairman’s support, in growing the football club into its current position. To be leaving the club with a squad full of exciting talent led by an excellent manager, I truly believe the foundations are in place to be built upon.
“Finally, a huge thank you to all the fans for your continued support and passion – especially with how you’ve helped new signings and academy products settle into life at Selhurst Park by supporting and getting behind the team.
Fulham (FA Cup)
A
Southampton
A
Brighton
H
Man City
A
Newcastle
A
“Crystal Palace is and will always remain in my heart, and I will continue to look for results and follow the club’s progress closely.”
Crystal Palace eyeing controversial move to replace Freedman
As Freedman’s departure has now been confirmed, according to The Daily Mail, Parish and Crystal Palace are eyeing up Iain Moody to replace the 50-year-old.
The report states that Palace are looking to re-shape their recruitment team, and Moody is likely to take up a more prominent position. Moody has been working as a managing director at Sapienza Football Consulting for the last 10 years and remains close to Parish.
Moody has worked with the Eagles before, but his time with the club was very controversial. He was the club’s sporting director for 11 months between 2013 and 2014 before he resigned under a very big cloud after it was alleged he had sent racist, homophobic, and sexist text messages to Malky Mackay, who he had worked with at Cardiff City.
Since his exit, Moody has been back at Selhurst Park to watch Crystal Palace games, and given his relationship with Parish, he could be one to watch as a replacement for Freedman.
In what would see them get one over on their top six rivals, Manchester United are now keen to sign an attacking star who’s currently Tottenham Hoptspur’s top target this summer.
Man Utd and Spurs battling on and off the pitch
So much of Manchester United’s season has mirrored Tottenham’s. Both find themselves languishing in the bottom half, both have been left to rely on the Europa League for any chance of turning their season around and both are now in desperate need of summer reinforcements. When the summer transfer window does arrive, it would also come as little surprise if the two ‘big six’ sides found themselves operating in close quarters, either.
After admitting that nothing could turn their season around, Ruben Amorim will at least be hoping that the lure of Old Trafford is still enough to see the Red Devils secure their targets ahead of the likes of Spurs even in Manchester United’s current state.
On that front, the rumours are already coming thick and fast. According to Caught Offside, Manchester United now want to sign Antoine Semenyo in a move that would see them beat Spurs to their top target this summer. The Lilywhites are even reportedly lining up a bid worth €40m (£34m) to sign the winger Bournemouth value at £50m ahead of the transfer window.
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That doesn’t look set to discourage United, however, who caught a first-hand glimpse of Semenyo’s quality earlier this season when he scored in a stunning 3-0 victory for Bournemouth. Handing Noussair Mazraoui a torrid time, the versatile full-back ended the defeat with just five defensive actions and a 50% duel-success rate.
Semenyo, meanwhile, found himself wheeling away in celebration after scoring the final of his side’s three goals to stun Old Trafford just after the hour mark.
"Powerful" Semenyo has earned big move
Whilst there would be plenty of irony involved if Semenyo set his sights on a big move this summer and found himself at a club currently on a crash course hurtling towards a bottom half finish, Manchester United’s name still carries plenty of weight. As they look to rebuild under Amorim, picking apart sides like Bournemouth would be a good place to start.
Antoine Semenyo scores for Bournemouth
Semenyo has certainly earned a chance to move onto a top six side too, scoring nine goals and assisting another five in all competitions for the Cherries so far this season. Receiving plenty of praise as a result, analyst Ben Mattinson dubbed the winger the “perfect instant-impact winger” who also possesses “powerful ambipedal ball striking”.
Semenyo certainly looks likely to have a decision to make this summer, but whether that results in a trip to Old Trafford remains to be seen.
Last weekend’s 2-0 home defeat at the hands of St Mirren, the Buddies’ first victory at Ibrox since 1991, proved to be the Belgian’s 86th and final match in charge, enjoying 55 victories but unable to lead the Gers to a 56th title.
His sacking was announced a week ago before, the following morning, it was confirmed that Barry Ferguson, who made 410 appearances for the club, will be in interim charge until the end of the season, assisted by a trio of fellow-former Rangers players, namely Neil McCann, Billy Dodds and Allan McGregor.
Given that, as noted by Graham Ruthven of the Total Soccer Show, Ferguson has no pedigree as a top-level manager, previously taking charge of Clyde, Kelty Hearts and Alloa Athletic with mixed success, he’s unlikely to get the job permanently.
So, should Rangers’ potential new investors, namely Paraag Marathe of 49ers Enterprises, look to a manager from farther afield, with Pep Guardiola’s approval no less, as Clement’s long-term successor?
What went wrong for Philippe Clement at Ibrox
Ever since Rangers were knocked out of the Scottish Cup by Queen’s Park, beaten at Ibrox in that competition by a team from a lower division for the first time ever, it was only a matter of time until Clement lost his job.
With his team also currently 16 points adrift run-away Premiership leaders Celtic, speaking on Premier Sports’ Scottish Football Social Club, former Hibs and Hearts midfielder Michael Stewart said he could not see how Clement could survive such an historic cup shock.
Meantime, speaking on the Scottish Football Show, Findlay Marks believes Clement has been a ‘dead man walking’ ever since that cup exit, adding that while the Belgian is clearly a good manager, he ‘never figured out… how to play in Scotland’.
Clement failed to win any of his first six Glasgow derbies, two of which came in cup finals, another reason why Mark Atkinson of the Scotsman believed ‘most Rangers-minded individuals wanted him gone’ a while ago.
Rangersmanager PhilippeClement
With Rangers marooned in second spot in the Premiership, not going to catch Celtic and equally unlikely to be overtaken by Aberdeen, they can start planning for next season, which they know will commence on 22 or 23 July with the first leg of a Champions League qualifier.
By then, the Light Blues could have new owners, given that 49ers Enterprises are attempting to purchase a ‘controlling stake’ in the club, as reported by Jordan Campbell of the Athletic, so should they look to the other side of the world for their first managerial hire?
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Rangers' ideal Clement successor
According to David Irvine of the National, Kevin Muscat is currently third-favourite to be the next Rangers manager, having been interviewed for the job back in October 2023, when Clement was appointed instead, a decision that left him ‘disappointed’.
Yokohama manager Kevin Muscat.
As a player, Muscat made 26 appearances for Rangers in the 2002/03 season, also representing Crystal Palace, Wolves, Millwall as well as various clubs across Australia, infamously deemed to be too hot-headed by manager Alex McLeish to play in an Old Firm.
He’s since become something of a globe trotter in management, in charge of Melbourne Victory for six years, winning two A-League titles, before a brief stint as Ange Postecoglou’s assistant at the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia.
After little over a dozen matches in charge of Sint-Truiden in Belgium, he then succeeded Postecoglou at Yokohama F. Marinos, after his compatriot became Celtic head coach, winning the J1 League in 2022.
Since December 2023, Muscat has been in charge of Shanghai Port in China, winning the Chinese Super League and Chinese FA Cup double last season, beating Shandong Taishan 3-1 in November’s final in Wenzhou, as he pointed out himself, achieving the club’s very first double.
“Guardiola has approved of Kevin Muscat’s high-tempo attacking football” as noted by digital producer Sacha Pisani, with the Manchester City boss saying of Muscat’s Yokohama side “wow… they are dynamic in their process, the build-up, everything they do. I like it.”
So, let’s see how he compares to Clement.
Matches
86
200
116
46
Wins
55
95
67
33
Wins %
63.95%
47.5%
57.76%
71.72%
League titles
Zero
2
1
1
Cups
1
2
0
1
As the table underlines, Muscat has won a league title in three different countries, not many can boast that, while his Shanghai Port side won last season’s Chinese Super League title with a record-breaking 78 points, dropping only 12 points all year.
Thus, the 51-year-old’s pedigree means he has to be a serious candidate to fill the current vacancy at Ibrox.
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The father of one Celtic transfer target has launched a jab at Scottish football, labelling it an “intermediate” step for his son.
Celtic miss out on late deals
Brendan Rodgers side may well be well clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership, but they remained active in the January transfer window.
Kyogo Furuhashi departed to join Rennes, which left the Scottish giants needing to replace the forward before the window slammed shut. After failing with several offers to sign a new forward, they ultimately opted to re-sign Jota, with the 25-year-old joining from the same side that Kyogo joined.
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He has already marked his return with two goals and an assist in three Scottish Premiership outings, hitting the ground running at his former stomping ground and beginning to pay back his transfer fee at Celtic Park. But that move hasn’t gone down well in all quarters.
Strelec's father reacts to failed transfer
Before they signed Jota, one player that Celtic made a move for was Slovan Bratislava talent David Strelec, who has found the net 11 times in 19 games so far this season and who had caught the eye of Rodgers’ side.
They made an offer to sign the forward, but it was knocked back by the Slovakian side as it was deemed to be too low, and Celtic ultimately moved onto other targets before landing Jota.
Appearances
19
Goals
11
Assists
3
Minutes per goal involvement
83.5
And now Strelec’s father has revealed just what happened, and how it left both him and his son fuming.
“You know, when I heard about Celtic’s interest, I was thrilled”, he explained. “I was there at Slovan’s first match in the Champions League, whole families were sitting there, old and young, amazing atmosphere. I would have loved to see him there. He has made great progress since the Euro, he is doing well, he is scoring goals. But the decision about his transfer was made higher up.
“Celtic’s bid of 9.5m Euros? [£7.9m] That didn’t help either. Unfortunately, that’s how it is. But none of us knows the exact details of the contract or how the installments or bonuses were set. Maybe Slovan wanted to get it all at once, that’s why the club decided against it. It’s probably pointless to get into it.”
However, his further comments will not go down well with fans either side of the Old Firm divide, with Strelec adding that Scotland was just a two-team league and an “intermediate step” for his son.
“I watched the Celtic game over the weekend, everyone knows that the Scottish competition is about two clubs, but it could have been a good intermediate step for David. But there are things you simply can’t influence. It turned out the way it turned out. We’ll see what happens in the summer. My son will continue to perform well, I’m sure of that.
“It was beyond my control. They have invested a lot in David over the years, although some would say he’s already paid it back. I guess they know what they’re doing. My son will continue to perform well and be professional and in the summer… who knows?”
If Celtic go back in for the Slovakian, he will have some work to do to win over the Parkhead faithful.
Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl was thrown into a difficult situation when he decided to take on the job as Russell Martin’s replacement at Ibrox.
The former Gers boss only won five of 17 matches in charge of the club, whilst the summer transfer window was navigated by Kevin Thelwell, who has since been relieved of his duties.
Now that Thelwell has departed, Rohl will have a chance to lead the charge to recruit his own players in the upcoming January transfer window, and a new winger has to be on the agenda.
Ranking Rohl's winger options for Rangers
Rohl has plenty of options who can play on the left or the right flank, but very few of them have shown that they have the quality to be reliable options in the present day.
Oliver Antman and Nedim Bajrami are both currently out through injury, which means that they are not current options for the manager, whilst Kieran Dowell has only just returned from injury and has yet to be given a chance to shine.
1
Mikey Moore
2
Djeidi Gassama
3
Findlay Curtis
4
Danilo
5
Kieran Dowell
N/A
Nedim Bajrami
N/A
Oliver Antman
As you can see in the table above, we have ranked Mikey Moore as the best current option on the wing for Rangers, because he has scored two goals in his last two Scottish Premiership games.
No other natural Gers winger, with Danilo a striker by trade, has scored more than one league goal for the Gers this season, with Djeidi Gassama on one goal and one assist.
Gassama has been particularly disappointing of late, with one goal and no assists in his last 11 matches, and Rangers could finally replace him as a starter by signing Yelimay Semey left winger Galymzhan Kenzhebek in January.
Why Rangers should sign Galymzhan Kenzhebek
The 22-year-old forward has been the subject of a bid from Rangers ahead of the January transfer window opening for business, and they should push to get a deal done for him because he could be an upgrade on Gassama.
Rangers should bolster their options in the wide areas in the winter market because we have ranked the Frenchman as their second-best wide option, despite the fact that he has only scored one league goal for the club.
A return of one goal and one assist in 15 Premiership matches for the Gers, per Sofascore, is not a good enough return for a team that should be competing to win the title, which is why Kenzhebek should be considered as a possible replacement for the starting XI.
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The young winger currently plays in Kazakhstan, which makes it hard to predict how he will adapt to the Premiership, but it is worth remembering that Hearts, who top the league, signed Alexandros Kyziridis from Slovakia and Claudio Braga from the second division in Norway.
There are hidden gems to be found in more obscure leagues, as evidenced by those two signings, who have combined for 15 goals and nine assists for Hearts, per Transfermarkt, this season.
Appearances
11
15
Goals
6
1
Minutes per goal
162
1,171
Key passes per game
1.7
0.9
Assists
4
1
Successful dribbles per game
8.6
2.0
As you can see in the table above, Kenzhebek’s form for his current club is far more impressive than anything Gassama has produced at the top end of the pitch for the Light Blues in the Premiership.
Whilst there is no guarantee that he can translate that form over to Scottish football, there is also no guarantee that signings from the Championship or other top leagues in Europe can adapt to the league or Ibrox.
It is also worth taking into account that Kenzhebek, who was hailed as a “very pacy” player by Rangers Journal creator Kai Watson, has also shown promise at international level.
The Rangers target has scored two goals and provided one assist in six World Cup qualifiers for Kazakhstan, per Sofascore, which shows that he can compete on the international stage, as well as impress for his club domestically.
On top of being an attractive target on paper because of his statistics, Kenzhebek’s contract with his club is due to expire at the end of this month, per Transfermarkt, which means that the Gers can pick him up on a free transfer.
Therefore, Rangers must push to get a deal done for the talented youngster because he could be a hidden gem, away from the usual markets that the club shop in, who could come in and take Gassama’s place in the side.
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If he can then translate his current form over to Ibrox, Rohl would finally have a consistent winger who can provide goals and assists on a regular basis.
Rangers have made contact to sign a £20,000-a-week player who has been likened to full-back Jefte, according to a Sky Sports reporter.
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Russell Martin is currently preparing for his first Scottish Premiership season in charge at Ibrox, with players set to report back for pre-season on Monday ahead of an early Champions League qualifier in July.
However, in the transfer market, the 49ers are looking to back their new manager with additions in the window. One move that was agreed before Martin arrived and the 49ers officially took over was a pre-contract agreement for Lyall Cameron, with the midfielder joining Rangers from Dundee.
Cameron was unveiled as a new Rangers player on Tuesday after a stellar 2024/25 campaign which saw him score 14 goals and provide nine assists. Speaking on his recent performances, Cameron said:
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Alongside the midfielder, there have also been strong links to AFC Bournemouth right-back Max Aarons, with claims even suggesting a verbal agreement was done and a loan move was close for the Englishman.
However, there has been a new update on a move for the full-back who has been likened to Jefte.
Rangers in contact to sign Aarons as Bournemouth stance shared
Sky Sports reporter Mark McAdam provided an update on Rangers’ attempts to sign Aarons on Tuesday.
He stated that contact has been made by Rangers for the 25-year-old, however, while the Gers are looking at doing a loan deal for the £20,000-a-week defender, Bournemouth would prefer a permanent transfer.
Aarons appears to be out of favour at the Vitality Stadium under Andoni Iraola but is still under contract on the south coast until 2029. Therefore, a move could be complicated as the Cherries are looking to recoup as much of the £7m they paid for Aarons, whereas Rangers want him on a temporary basis.
Milan van Ewijk
Coventry City
Jefte
Rangers
Isaac Schmidt
Leeds United
Jordi Alba
Inter Miami
Alistair Johnston
Celtic
One way the clubs could get around negotiations could be to include an option or obligation to buy Aarons next summer, but at this moment in time, a deal doesn’t appear to be as advanced as previously suggested.
Celtic are preparing for the 2025/26 season after another successful year under Brendan Rodgers, with the Hoops lifting another Scottish Premiership title.
Their dominance in Scotland is showing no signs of slowing up, and something those at Parkhead have done well in recent years is making a number of shrewd signings.
They have also cashed in on a plethora of Celtic Park stars at the right times, making profits on the likes of Matt O’Riley, Kyogo Furuhashi and Jota, with the latter of the three since returning.
Matt O’Riley
Brighton
£25m
2024
Jota
Al-Ittihad
£25m
2023
Kieran Tierney
Arsenal
£25m
2019
Moussa Dembele
Lyon
£19.7m
2018
Odsonne Edouard
Crystal Palace
£14m
2021
But who could be in line to leave Celtic this summer? Grok, the AI tool on X, has predicted five players the Hoops will cash in on ahead of 25/26, and if they are correct, Celtic will receive more than £50m.
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ByCharlie Smith Jun 14, 2025 AI predicts 5 players Celtic will sell this summer 1 Reo Hatate (£25m)
The first player Grok has predicted to leave Parkhead is midfielder Reo Hatate, who they say has been a ‘standout performer’ for Celtic.
Signed for just under £1.5m in 2022, Hatate could generate a huge profit and has been backed to exit for up to £25m.
AI adds that Hatate’s ‘versatility, work rate, and technical ability make him a prime candidate for a big move’.
2 Cameron Carter-Vickers (£15m)
Centre-back Cameron Carter-Vickers has been heavily linked with a move away this summer, so it isn’t a shock that AI believes an exit could happen.
Purchased for an initial £6m from Tottenham back in 2022, Carter-Vickers has made Celtic Park his home following plenty of loan spells earlier in his career but is now wanted by multiple clubs in England.
Grok says that £15m could be enough for Celtic to sell, basing that off the club’s previous defensive sales, such as when Virgil van Dijk joined Southampton and Kristoffer Ajer moved to Brentford.
3 Daizen Maeda (£12m)
After Kyogo Furuhashi left Celtic at the beginning of 2025, Daizen Maeda featured in a more central role in the latter stages of the season and ended the campaign with 33 goals in all competitions.
As a result, the Japan international has been linked with a move to the Premier League as he enters the final two years of his current Parkhead contract.
It is stated that following Furuhashi’s exit, ‘Maeda could be next if Celtic look to refresh their attacking options’, with a £12m fee mooted.
4 Gustaf Lagerbielke (£3m)
After spending the 24/25 season on loan at FC Twente, Gustaf Lagerbielke is looking to leave Celtic this summer, so it’s no surprise that he is on AI’s list.
Games
10
Goals
1
Red cards
1
Minutes played
576
The Sweden international hasn’t lived up to expectations at Parkhead and is among several fringe players who ‘don’t fit into Rodgers’ long-term plans’.
If a permanent sale materialises, Grok feels a transfer could be worth up to £3m, around the fee they paid Elfsborg back in 2023.
5 Hyeok-kyu Kwon (£1m)
Celtic midfielder Hyeok-kyu Kwon.
Another player who looks surplus to requirements is midfielder Hyeok-kyu Kwon, who has had loan spells at Scottish Premiership sides St Mirren and Hibernian since moving to Celtic Park.
Yet to make a competitive appearance for the Hoops, the 24-year-old is still under contract until 2028, but the club are open to offers for Kwon.
Grok says a fee worth just £1m could be enough for Celtic to sell the midfielder.
Liverpool’s 2024/25 campaign was one of undisputed success, but there are some within Arne Slot’s squad who will have been left feeling pensive in spite of the club’s incredible Premier League triumph.
Harvey Elliott, for one, adores Liverpool and has no doubt envisaged a career-long affinity with the Anfield side, dominating with his creative flair and ingenuity. However, starting berths were few and far between after Jurgen Klopp left, and the recent club-record acquisition of Florian Wirtz would see the 21-year-old play still less.
That’s why he’s expected to leave this summer, with Brighton & Hove Albion among the interested parties, prepared to pay £40m for the talented playmaker.
Liverpool's HarveyElliottcelebrates
But Elliott isn’t the only one. Jarell Quansah has been another of the Merseysiders’ most exciting prospects after emerging in 2023/24 and earning praise for his “absolute monster” season from talent scout Jacek Kulig.
However, Slot wasn’t so enamoured as his predecessor, and after subbing the young centre-back off against Ipswich Town last August, the first game of a new era, Quansah never looked the same.
Jarell Quansah for Liverpool
Thus, a deal worth £30m plus add-ons has been agreed with Bayer Leverkusen for the transfer of the Three Lions star, who has been called up to the national camp, if not actually fielded yet.
So much potential; it’s a shame. However, FSG aren’t messing about this summer, and have already found their dream replacement in Marc Guehi.
Why Liverpool want Marc Guehi
Guehi is one of the most exciting defenders in English football, having only got better under Oliver Glasner’s Eagles wing, already established at Crystal Palace after leaving Chelsea for £18m in 2021.
Crystal Palace's MarcGuehicelebrates after the match
The 24-year-old is the real deal, all right, and played an instrumental part in Palace’s stunning FA Cup triumph in May, beating Manchester City in the final.
It’s been reported that Liverpool are close to agreeing personal terms for the England international, who is entering the final year of his contract at Selhurst Park.
However, Guehi wants assurances over his playing time; with Ibrahima Konate believed to have rejected Liverpool’s latest contract proposal, maybe he’ll get his wish.
Ibrahima Konate warming up for Liverpool
Though Guehi is “among the best centre-backs”, as claimed by one data analyst, Liverpool are keeping their options open. Indeed, there’s another on the outfit’s shortlist who might be an even bigger talent.
Liverpool eyeing Guehi alternative
As per The Athletic, Liverpool have an admiration for Nottingham Forest defender Murillo, though they have concerns over the Tricky Trees’ £80m valuation.
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Murillo, 22, has emerged as one of the Premier League’s biggest breakout stars and is also coveted by Chelsea. Though it’s absolutely certain that Liverpool would not be forking out £80m for the Brazilian, if the young talent pushes for an exit, a deal may yet be struck.
Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson celebrates scoring their first goal with Nikola Milenkovic andMurillo
After joining Forest from Brazilian side Corinthians for £15m in August 2023, Murillo signed a new long-term deal in January 2025, extending his deal to the end of the 2028/29 season.
Why Liverpool want Murillo
Let’s be clear: the chances of Liverpool signing Murillo are low, but it is not out of the question. The hulking centre-half is one of the most ferocious defenders in the business, praised as a “monster” by teammate Anthony Elanga and as “one of the best defenders in the Premier League” by certain experts on Brazilian football.
Over the past two years, Murillo has played 68 times in the Premier League, instrumental in reinforcing Nottingham Forest as a Premier League outfit and then lifting them into the top half of the division, securing a place in European competition through their efforts last season.
He’s also a bit Joel Matip-esque, capable of taking the ball and ploughing forwards in a way which is elusive to most backliners. To be honest, though, scant few defenders would even attempt the Brazilian’s trademark forays, sure to end in a wonder goal at some stage.
Guehi likes to carry the ball upfield too, as you will see through the statistical analysis coming up in a moment, but Murillo simply does it better.
Indeed, both players enjoyed stunning seasons in their own right, but Murillo perhaps edges his positional peer after demonstrating a blooming roundedness that, with a bit more work, could see him become a superstar in Slot’s system.
Matches (starts)
36 (36)
34 (34)
Goals
2
3
Assists
0
2
Clean sheets
11
11
Touches*
55.4
64.9
Pass completion
80%
84%
Key passes*
0.4
0.5
Ball recoveries*
3.9
4.3
Dribbles*
0.8
0.4
Tackles + interceptions*
2.5
2.6
Clearances*
6.7
4.6
Duels (won)*
3.6 (60%)
4.9 (59%)
In fairness, facing Murillo and Guehi off against each other is akin to splitting hairs: both have proven their quality in the Premier League, and both have demonstrated a technical aptitude that would allow them to dovetail into the Anfield side.
It’s worth noting that Murillo has played in a system which precludes ball-playing emphasis. Nuno Espirito Santo has fashioned something special at the City Ground, qualifying for the Conference League with a seventh-place Premier League finish, and he did so without the ball.
Forest averaged 41.2% of possession in 2024/25, as per FBref, in front of only Everton and Ipswich Town for that metric. This, basically, shines a positive light on Murillo’s creativity, still finding cause to play progressive passes with consistency in spite of the limited ball time. He’d fit Slot’s system like a glove.
He’s also marginally ahead of Guehi in terms of duel success, a further illustration of his defensive prowess. While Murillo would need some work to shape his skill set into the completeness of a Liverpool-tailored central defender, there’s no question that he’s an outstanding talent who has proven his elite credentials in the Premier League.
Moreover, his creativity and athleticism prove the conclusive factors in outstripping another wonderful player in Guehi – and he’s two years his junior at that.
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