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There are a number of players within the Glasgow Rangers squad at Ibrox who are facing uncertain futures at the club during the summer transfer window.

The likes of Nicolas Raskin, Mohamed Diomande, Hamza Igamane, and Cyriel Dessers have been linked with moves away from the club, as European sides are looking to snap them up.

However, at the time of writing, the Scottish Premiership giants have not accepted any bids from teams for any of their star performers this summer.

One player who does look set to be on his way out of Ibrox, though, is central defender Robin Propper, after FC Twente and Rangers agreed a fee for the defender, who is now negotiating an exit with the club.

There are also players in the squad who have not been linked with moves away, yet they may still be playing for their long-term future under Russell Martin during pre-season.

Oscar Cortes’ 18-month loan deal finally turned into a permanent transfer, for a reported fee of £4m, this summer, but it remains to be seen if he has a future at Ibrox.

Why Oscar Cortes may not have a future at Ibrox

The Colombian forward first arrived in Glasgow on loan from French side Lens in the January transfer window in 2024, and spent 18 months on loan at the club before his permanent transfer became official at the start of July.

However, injury issues have plagued his career in Scotland to date. Cortes has only played 16 times in competitive games for the Light Blues so far, including just 11 appearances in the entire 2024/25 campaign.

This means that Martin cannot rely on the winger to be available on a regular basis for the Gers moving forward, until the 21-year-old gem proves that he can avoid injuries for a prolonged period of time.

For now, there is no guarantee that he can be relied upon as a starter because he has only been available for 16 games in the last 18 months, which is simply not enough.

24/25 Premiership

Oscar Cortes

Appearances

10

Starts

4

Goals

0

Big chances created

0

Key passes per game

0.4

Assists

0

Dribbles completed per game

0.6

Stats via Sofascore

As concerning is the fact that his performances on the pitch have also left a lot to be desired, as you can see in the table above, as he did not deliver any goal contributions in the Premiership last season.

Cortes was given opportunities when fit and available, as shown by the fact that he started 40% of his appearances despite his injury issues, but did not repay the faith shown in him with quality performances.

This is why the former Lens man, who can play on the left or the right flank, may not have a long-term future at Ibrox unless he can turn his career around by keeping fit and delivering quality displays on the pitch.

A fresh report linking Rangers with interest in another right-sided attacker does not spell good news for Cortes, though, as the club could land an upgrade on him.

Martin pushing Rangers to sign Premier League winger

According to Football Insider, Glasgow Rangers are interested in a potential swoop to bring Jesurun Rak-Sakyi to Ibrox from Crystal Palace this summer.

The report claims that Martin is the driving force behind the club’s eagerness to secure a deal with the Premier League side for the 22-year-old attacker, as he would like to work with the gem next season.

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Martin tried and failed to sign him on loan from Palace during his time in charge of both Swansea and Southampton in the English Championship, which shows that Rak-Sakyi has been a long-term target for the former Norwich defender.

Football Insider adds that Rangers would like to bolster their options in the wide areas, particularly after Vaclav Cerny returned to Wolfsburg after his loan spell at the club, and that they are keen to bring the Eagles youngster, who is valued at up to £10m, in on loan for next season.

It now remains to be seen whether Martin will finally get his wish at the third time of asking, or if he will fail in his pursuit of a deal for Rak-Sakyi once again in his managerial career.

Why Rak-Sakyi would be an upgrade on Cortes

The 22-year-old English winger would arrive at Ibrox as a big upgrade on Cortes if the club can strike a deal with the Premier League side to sign him on loan.

Rak-Sakyi’s availability, first and foremost, would make him an upgrade on the Colombian. The former England U21 international played 36 times for Sheffield United in all competitions during the 2024/25 campaign, which means that he played 21 more games than the Rangers flop managed.

This suggests that the Palace attacker is far more likely to be available for Martin to select on a week-to-week basis next season, as he does not have as bad of a recent injury history as the ex-Lens flanker.

Rak-Sakyi, once dubbed “remarkable” by Roy Hodgson, would also join Rangers as an upgrade on Cortes because of the quality that he can provide whilst playing on the right wing, cutting in on his left foot to provide a big threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals for his side.

24/25 Championship per 90

Jesurun Rak-Sakyi

Percentile rank vs wingers

xG

0.32

Top 13%

Goals

0.36

Top 11%

xA

0.18

Top 22%

Assists

0.10

Bottom 46%

Chances created

1.51

Top 31%

Dribbles completed

2.44

Top 7%

Touches in the opposition box

7.69

Top 2%

Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, the £10m-rated star ranked incredibly highly in a host of key attacking metrics in the Championship last season, although he was unfortunate to rank lowly for assists given how many high-quality chances he created.

Rak-Sakyi scored seven goals and provided two assists in 22 starts in the division for Sheffield United, which is nine more goal contributions than the zero Cortes produced for Rangers in his ten outings in the Premiership.

Therefore, Rangers could land a big upgrade on their £4m winger by signing the Palace winger this summer, both because of his potential to be available with greater regularity and because of the quality that he can offer at the top end of the pitch.

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Posts ByDan Emery Jul 14, 2025

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola now wants to sign an “ice cool” player, amid concerns over the performances of a current starter, according to a report.

On paper, Man City should have been no match for Al-Hilal, and they certainly had the better of their opponents, creating more chances and having over double the amount of shots on target throughout the match.

However, the Blues ultimately ended up crashing out of the Club World Cup after a shock 4-3 defeat, with Al-Hilal goalkeeper Yassine Bounou putting in a phenomenal performance, making eight saves from inside the box to keep Guardiola’s side at bay.

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The City boss refused to be too critical of his players in the wake of the result, while also singling out Bounou for praise, saying:“It is a pity. We have been on incredible journey together and were in a good place. The vibe was really good. I cannot thank the players enough for training and playing how they have been.

“But it was a difficult game. The margins were minimal. We created a lot and (Yassine) Bounou made incredible saves but we were so open.”

However, behind-the-scenes, Guardiola is still planning to make some changes to his squad, with a report from Spain revealing the Man City manager has made it clear that he wants to sign Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.

With Ederson not the player he once was, having lost consistency in his performances, there is a desire to bring in a new goalkeeper, and Guardiola believes Ter Stegen could be an ideal fit, believing that he has the qualities to succeed in the Premier League.

Barca would be willing to sanction a departure if a good offer comes their way, as the La Liga side are looking to reduce their wage bill, and the German rakes in a sizeable £105k-a-week.

"Ice cool" Ter Stegen has track record of success

The 33-year-old has won 20 major honours throughout a glittering career, having been an important player for Barcelona over a number of years, making a total of 422 appearances for the Spanish side.

That experience at the top level could be very useful for a Man City side which needs to start winning again, having endured a rare trophyless season during the 2024-25 campaign.

The “ice cool” goalkeeper is also comfortable in possession of the ball, which could make him a good fit in a Guardiola system, with counterpart Thibaut Courtois describing the Barca shot-stopper as the “best in the game” with his feet.

Ter Stegen could be a fantastic signing for Man City, but there may be some concerns over the fact the goalkeeper is already 33-years-old, making him two years older than Ederson, which indicates he is unlikely to be a long-term replacement for the Brazilian.

Ben Mike claims key wickets as du Plooy, Roland-Jones resistance is unpicked

ECB Reporters Network02-Jul-2024

Ben Green added vital runs to lengthen Leicestershire’s lead•Getty Images

Despite missing eight senior players through injury or unavailability, Leicestershire recorded their first victory of the Division Two season and inflicted a first defeat on Middlesex as their Vitality County Championship match ended in a 123-run win for Lewis Hill’s team inside three days.After being skittled for 86 in their first innings on day one, Middlesex were left to chase an unlikely 466 – a fourth-innings total they have bettered only twice in their history – if they were to leave Grace Road with a fourth success of their campaign after Leicestershire made 372 in their second innings.In the event, they were bowled out for 342, the decisive phase coming in the half-hour after tea, when Leus Du Plooy (60) and Ryan Higgins (41), their leading runscorers this season, were out in quick succession.On a pitch carrying much less menace than it had earlier in the match, Middlesex skipper Toby Roland-Jones at least offered some late defiance, throwing caution to the wind with a 33-ball 59 that included eight sixes before he was last man out.Du Plooy had been caught by Ben Green off the bowling of Ben Mike, who were the two players who did most to influence the outcome of the match.On loan Somerset all-rounder Green hit 77 second-innings runs to go with his career-best four for 28 in Middlesex’s first innings, adding two more wickets today and taking the catch on the mid-wicket boundary that clinched the win for his temporary team-mates.Mike added 41 second-innings runs to his career-best five for 22 in the first innings, finishing with eight wickets in the match after his second-innings three for 88.Already 404 runs to the good when rain forced an early finish on day two, Leicestershire added another 61 in the dozen overs it took Middlesex to dismiss Mike and Green at the start of the day.Mike, who had clubbed leg spinner Luke Hollman for six and four in the same over, holed out to long-on after the ninth-wicket pair had put on 89.Yet Green was able to pick up another six boundaries while keeping last man Matt Salisbury away from the strike before he was caught at short third man.With a potential minimum of 186 overs remaining in the match, the required run rate for Middlesex was therefore a modest 2.5 per over.In the event, clearly keen to put pressure on the Leicestershire bowlers, openers Mark Stoneman and Sam Robson launched the pursuit at double that rate. Both, though, were out inside the first 11 overs. Robson edged behind off Mike for two. Stoneman, who got away with a difficult chance to third slip on five, numbered six boundaries in his 34-ball 30 but was caught at second slip when Green found some bounce and away movement.Du Plooy and Max Holden were relieved to reach lunch unscathed at 74 for two and were notably circumspect thereafter. On a surface that was still prone to variable bounce, it became a game of patience for both sides – one in which, by tea, Middlesex will have felt they were doing pretty well.At 167 for three, they still needed another 299 but Holden, leg before getting only half forward to an inswinging delivery from Salisbury, was their only casualty of the afternoon session, although there was concern for Du Plooy, who took a bang on the helmet when he ducked into a bouncer from Mike just before completing a 111-ball half century.Yet the pendulum swung Leicestershire’s way at the start of the final session, with the key wickets of Du Plooy and Ryan Higgins falling to Mike and Salisbury.Du Plooy, forced to take evasive action by another Mike bouncer, slapped the next delivery straight to backward point, ending what seemed like the key partnership after 78 runs. Then Higgins, dropped by Ben Cox standing up to Salisbury on 39, departed in the tall seamer’s next over as the Leicestershire wicketkeeper rapidly made amends.Josh De Caires led a somewhat charmed life against Scott Currie, who made the next breakthrough by having Jack Davies strangled down the leg side, but ultimately fell to the off spin of Louis Kimber for 36, caught at slip, a bonus wicket before the new ball, with which Green struck with the first delivery as Hollman was bowled offering no shot for 25.Mike picked up his eighth wicket of the match as Henry Brookes was leg before before Roland-Jones, as captain smarting most from the defeat, took his frustration out on the ball.

أعلنت رابطة الأندية المحترفة المصرية، مواعيد مباريات النادي الأهلي، في مسابقة بطولة كأس رابطة الأندية للموسم الحالي 2025-2026.

وأوقعت قرعة كأس الرابطة، الأهلي بالمجموعة الأولى، بجانب كل من سيراميكا كليوباترا وفاركو وطلائع الجيش وإنبي وغزل المحلة والمقاولون العرب.

ويشارك في بطولة كأس الرابطة هذا الموسم 21 فريقًا المتواجدين في بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز على رأسها الأهلي والزمالك، وتم تقسيم الأندية على 3 مجموعات، كل مجموعة تضم 7 فرق.

طالع | نتائج قرعة كاس الرابطة المصرية 2025-2026

ويلعب كل فريق 6 مباريات في دور المجموعات من أجل حسم التأهل للدور ربع النهائي، على أن يتأهل أول وثاني كل مجموعة بالإضافة لأفضل فريقين احتلا المركز الثالث لربع النهائي.

وتقام بطولة كأس رابطة الأندية للمرة الخامسة، بعد أن أقيمت 4 نسخ من قبل، توج بها فيوتشر في المرة الأولى وسيراميكا كليوباترا حصل عليها 3 مرات متتالية. مواعيد مباريات الأهلي في كأس الرابطة المصرية

الجولة الأولى – الأهلي ضد إنبي، استاد القاهرة – يوم الخميس 11 ديسمبر، الساعة 8 مساءً.

الجولة الثانية – الأهلي ضد سيراميكا كليوباترا، استاد السلام.، يوم الجمعة 19 ديسمبر، الساعة 8 مساءً.

الجولة الثالثة – الأهلي ضد غزل المحلة، استاد المحلة، يوم الثلاثاء 23 ديسمبر، الساعة 8 مساءً.

الجولة الرابعة – الأهلي ضد المقاولون العرب، ملعب استاد القاهرة، يوم الثلاثاء 30 ديسمبر، الساعة 8 مساءً.

الجولة الخامسة – راحة للعدد الفردي في المجموعة المكونة من 7 أندية.

الجولة السادسة – الأهلي ضد فاركو، ملعب برج العرب، يوم السبت 10 يناير 2026، الساعة 8 مساءً.

الجولة السابعة – الأهلي ضد طلائع الجيش، ملعب استاد القاهرة، يوم الخميس 15 يناير 2026، الساعة 8 مساءً.

Arsenal are extremely busy behind-the-scenes as they look to reinforce Mikel Arteta’s squad with proven quality, and it is believed yet another player has been given permission to join them by his club.

New sporting director Andrea Berta’s arrival has motivated plenty of excitement and anticipation among supporters for this summer window, with the Italian known to spin many plates at a time in pursuit of his preferred transfer targets.

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Berta’s track record at former club Atlético Madrid also makes him stand out as a proven replacement for ex-director Edu Gaspar, and the 53-year-old has already made a solid start to his tenure at the Emirates with a couple of completed deals.

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

After months of talks, Berta has put the finishing touches on Arsenal’s move for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, with the Gunners set to pay £56 million for him. This is slightly above his release clause, but the fee will be paid in installments, with Zubimendi recently finalising his move to N5.

Arsenal also triggered Kepa Arrizabalaga’s £5 million release clause to make him Berta’s second summer arrival after Zubimendi (Fabrizio Romano), securing a solid and experienced back-up option for David Raya.

Brentford captain Christian Norgaard was linked earlier this week, as claims started to emerge that Arsenal were considering a shock move for the 31-year-old to replace Thomas Partey, and that deal has seriously intensified in the last 24 hours.

Following accelerated talks with Brentford, they’ve now agreed a deal worth an initial £10 million, plus an additional £5 million in potential add-ons (BBC), and the Denmark international is set to become Berta’s third signing of the window.

Christian Norgaard permitted for Arsenal medical after deal agreed

As per trusted transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, Norgaard has now been “authorized” to undergo his medical at Arsenal after a deal was agreed for the Scandinavian, so barring any physical complications, the midfielder will be Arsenal’s “next” completed deal.

With Partey set to leave as a free agent after June 30, Norgaard comes in as a like-for-like stand-in for the Ghanaian, and one who boasts similar attributes as a Premier League proven defensive midfield anchor.

Berta has moved swiftly to ensure that Arteta won’t be left short in the midfield department, and Norgaard has long been praised as a player who “goes under the radar” with his consistent performances.

“Norgaard is a better player than a lot of people give him credit for,” said former top-level scout Mick Brown to Football Insider recently.

“So interest from clubs like Arsenal might come as a shock, but he would be a good option for them. He’s a very consistent performer who goes under the radar a lot of the time, and that’s what these clubs are looking for, a solid, consistent player.”

He has also relinquished the white-ball captaincy

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Jun-2024

Kane Williamson led New Zealand in 166 white-ball matches and 40 Tests•Getty Images

Kane Williamson, New Zealand’s current T20I and ODI captain, has declined a central contract for 2024-25. He will also step down from white-ball captaincy to prolong his international career.”Helping push the team forward across the formats is something I’m very passionate about and something I want to keep contributing towards,” Williamson said in a New Zealand Cricket (NZC) release. “However, pursuing an overseas opportunity during the New Zealand summer means I’m unable to accept a central contract offer.”New Zealand have very little cricket at home during this season, especially in January. They are slated to play eight WTC Tests, including a tour of India and then a three-match home series against England in November-December, before Christmas. Ahead of last season, Williamson, 33, had relinquished the Test captaincy with Tim Southee appointed as his successor.Despite forgoing a central contract, Williamson reiterated his commitment to New Zealand and remained open about accepting a contract in the future.Related

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“Playing for New Zealand is something I treasure, and my desire to give back to the team remains undiminished,” he said. “My life outside cricket has changed, however. Spending more time with my family and enjoying experiences with them at home or abroad is something that’s even more important to me.”The announcement comes on the heels of a disappointing T20 World Cup 2024 campaign for New Zealand, who missed out of at least a semi-final finish in a men’s World Cup for the first time since 2014. Williamson was coy about his T20I future saying “Oh, I don’t know. We’ll see where things land,” when asked whether he would be involved in New Zealand’s T20 setup in 2026.Williamson, who played his 100th Test earlier this year, also has 165 ODI caps and 93 T20I caps. He led New Zealand in 40 Tests, 91 ODIs and 75 T20Is – a stellar recorded decorated by their finals’ appearances in the World Test Championship 2021 (that they won), the ODI World Cup 2019 (which they lost via a Super Over) and T20 World Cup 2021 (lost to Australia).January 2025 will see a clash of T20 leagues, with UAE’s ILT20, South Africa’s SA20, Australia’s BBL and Bangladesh’s BPL set to overlap. While ILT20 is set to begin on January 11, it is understood that the BBL will run until January 26. The SA20 is set to run from January 9 to February 8. New Zealand’s Super Smash could also be on in the same time period. All of it will be followed by the ICC Champions Trophy – to be hosted by Pakistan – that is to start tentatively on February 19.Scott Weenink, the NZC CEO, said that New Zealand’s “greatest ever batter” has earned the right to pursue other goals, including family-oriented ones.”This is a good way to help keep Kane in the international game so that he continues to play a major role for the Blackcaps – both now and in the years to come,” he said. “We have very little international cricket in New Zealand through January and outside that period he’s still available for the Blackcaps. NZC has a strong preference to select centrally contracted players for the Blackcaps.”However, we’re happy to make an exception for our greatest ever batter – especially as he remains so committed to the team. I know it sounds a bit counterintuitive, but I’m very encouraged by this development.”Fast bowler Lockie Ferguson, 33, who has played a Test, 65 ODIs and 42 T20Is, has also indicated that he won’t be accepting a central contract offer. He signed off from the T20 World Cup with figures of 4-4-0-3 against PNG, becoming only the second bowler – and the first in T20 World Cups – to bowl four maidens in a men’s T20I.

Manchester United have now opened talks to sign an “insane” £13m+ colossus, making contact with his representatives in recent days, according to a report.

Man Utd set sights on new goalkeeper

It would be fair to say that Andre Onana has flattered to deceive ever since arriving from Inter Milan, and Ruben Amorim even dropped the goalkeeper for Altay Bayindir at times during the 2024-25 season, with the Turk playing three of the final four Premier League games.

As such, it is no surprise that United are now looking to bring in a replacement for Onana, and they have set their sights on a number of ambitious targets, many of whom are vastly experienced at Champions League level.

Target

Current club

UCL appearances

Gianluigi Donnarumma

PSG

40

Marc-Andre ter Stegen

Barcelona

85

Emiliano Martinez

Aston Villa

14

Diogo Costa

FC Porto

23

That said, it could be difficult to attract some of Europe’s top goalkeepers after the Europa League final defeat against Tottenham Hotspur, and the Red Devils have now joined the race for a perhaps more attainable target.

According to a report from GiveMeSport, Man United have now opened talks with the entourage of OGC Nice goalkeeper Marcin Bulka, although given that the two clubs are owned by INEOS, a deal may not be possible until January 2026.

United cannot do business with the French club until September, so they may wait until January before making a move for the goalkeeper, who is valued at over £13m, or failing that they could look to bring him in on a free transfer next summer.

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Posts ByDominic Lund Jun 11, 2025

AC Milan and Galatasaray could provide competition for Bulka’s signature, with United yet to engage in formal club-to-club negotiations, indicating the potential move is not yet at an advanced stage.

"Insane" Bulka impressing in Ligue 1

Football scout Ben Mattinson has expressed his shock that the 25-year-old has remained at Nice for so long, given his impressive performances in France, saying: “Marcin Bułka was insane vs PSG. I’m surprised he’s still at Nice after being the best GK in Ligue 1 last season.

“The combination of his shot stopping prowess and quality both-footed distribution whilst being 6’6” makes him a great option for big teams.”

Indeed, the Polish shot-stopper put in what could be a career-best performance against former club PSG back in April, achieving a 10 SofaScore rating after making nine saves from inside the box and preventing 2.53 goals.

Nice ran out 3-1 winners against the European champions, embarrassing them in their own backyard courtesy of their colossus between the sticks, who averaged the second-highest Ligue 1 rating in the squad last season.

As such, Bulka could be an excellent signing for Man United, and he may be a more attainable target than the likes of Donnarumma and Ter Stegen, although the fact they will have to wait until January is frustrating.

Manchester United are in the market to sign a new centre-forward to lead the line for Ruben Amorim in the 2025/26 campaign, and that could spell trouble for Rasmus Hojlund at Old Trafford.

The latest on Rasmus Hojlund's future at Man Utd

According to the print edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport, as relayed by FCInterNews, Italian giants Inter want to sign the Denmark international to replace Mehdi Taremi this summer.

The Serie A side, who finished second in the league and were finalists in the Champions League, have ‘accelerated’ a move to snap up the former Atalanta attacker from the Red Devils.

La Gazzetta dello Sport adds that Hojlund has made it clear that he likes the idea of playing for Inter next season, but it remains to be seen whether or not he will really push for the transfer.

The outlet claims that Inter are pushing to sign him on loan with an obligation to make it permanent next summer, whilst Manchester United would prefer an instant sale to boost their coffers.

Hojlund is said to be valued at around £38m by the Premier League giants, which is more than Inter are willing to spend on a new striker at this time, and the two clubs are in talks over a deal that would work for all parties.

His exit from Old Trafford would pave the way for a new centre-forward to arrive in Manchester, though, and the club are already reportedly eyeing his replacement.

Man Utd in positive talks to sign Bundesliga striker

According to Foot Mercato, Manchester United are interested in a deal to sign former France U21 international Hugo Ekitike from Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt.

The report claims that the Red Devils are progressing in positive talks to bring the former PSG marksman over to England during the summer transfer window, as they look to improve their options at the top end of the pitch.

It states that the Premier League side are accelerating a deal for the 22-year-old centre-forward, after making positive contact with his representatives to discuss a move to Old Trafford.

Foot Mercato adds that United have also contacted Frankfurt to discuss a potential fee for Ekitike, who scored 22 goals in all competitions during the 2024/25 campaign, and that all parties are feeling positive at this moment in time.

The outlet, however, also reveals that Liverpool and Chelsea are also interested in signing the French attacker and could provide competition for his signature.

This may be why the Red Devils are ‘accelerating’ a swoop for the young marksman, amid talks with the player and Frankfurt, as they look to win the race for his services.

Analyst Ben Mattinson described him as “one of the best strikers out there” in March, and his statistics in the 2024/25 campaign suggest that he would be a big upgrade on what United currently have at their disposal.

24/25 season

Rasmus Hojlund (Premier League)

Hugo Ekitike (Bundesliga)

Appearances

32

33

Shots on target per game

0.4

1.5

Goals

4

15

Goals per game

0.1

0.5

Big chances created

4

12

Assists

0

8

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Ekitike vastly outperformed Hojlund at league level as both a scorer and a creator of goals in the number nine position, producing 27 goals and ‘big chances’ created combined, in comparison to the Dane’s eight.

This is why this fresh report detailing United’s pursuit of the Frankfurt star should come as good news to Amorim, who could have a huge upgrade for his attack if the transfer goes through this summer.

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Posts 1 ByTom Cunningham Jun 15, 2025

Despite winning the Premier League in the 2024/25 campaign, Liverpool are incredibly active in the summer transfer window in an attempt to bolster their squad.

The window officially opened for business on Sunday and the club have already confirmed Netherlands international Jeremie Frimpong as their first signing of the year.

He has come through the door as the direct replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has completed a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid ahead of the Club World Cup.

Liverpool are also reportedly closing in on a deal to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, as David Ornstein has claimed that the Germany international is keen to make the move to Anfield.

The 22-year-old star delivered 16 goals and 14 assists in all competitions for Leverkusen during the 2024/25 campaign, which suggests that the Reds could be bringing in an influential figure at the top end of the pitch.

These new signings coming in could provide added competition for the existing stars at Anfield, and one player who may need to be on his toes is Ibrahima Konate.

Why Ibrahima Konate could be concerned this summer

The France international started 30 of his 31 appearances in the Premier League during the 2024/25 season, as the main partner for Virgil van Dijk at the back.

However, it did not always look like that was going to be the case for the former RB Leipzig star. Last summer, Football Insider reported that Arne Slot was not convinced by the centre-back, due to his performances on the pitch and in training, as well as his injury record.

That was seemingly backed up by the Dutch head coach’s decision to go with Jarrel Quansah next to van Dijk ahead of Konate on the opening day against Ipswich Town. However, the English youngster endured a difficult half against Liam Delap and was replaced by the French titan at half-time.

Konate then went on to be a regular starter in the Premier League, despite those early concerns about his place in the side, but there were still moments that could throw his long-term future into doubt.

24/25 Premier League

Ibrahima Konate

Appearances

31

Starts

30

Ground duel success rate

61%

Aerial duel success rate

71%

Error led to shot

2

Error led to goal

1

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the French colossus was largely dominant in duels on the deck and in the air, but was also no stranger to making a mistake at the back.

Errors crept into his performances, with three errors leading to shots or goals for the opposition, in the Premier League, and that is why the club’s reported interest in a new central defender could leave him concerned this summer.

Liverpool eyeing deal for new centre-back

According to Football Insider, the path has been cleared for Liverpool to pursue a deal to sign RB Leipzig central defender Castello Lukeba in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the German side’s seventh-placed finish in the Bundesliga, which means that they will not be playing European football next season, has cleared the path for the Reds to swoop in for the centre-back, making them one of the favourites to secure his signature.

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It states that the French star has a release clause of £74m in his contract with Leipzig, and that Liverpool are on high alert after his team failed to qualify for Europe.

The report adds, however, that the Premier League giants will attempt to use the situation to negotiate a lower fee for the 22-year-old titan, which means that they could sign him for less than the £74m release clause.

Konate could, now, be concerned by this news because another centre-back arriving at Anfield this summer could create competition for his place that could see him drop out of the starting XI on a regular basis.

If Liverpool can get a deal over the line for Lukeba in the coming weeks or months, Slot could have a centre-back on his hands who has the potential to be an upgrade on his current partner for van Dijk.

Why Castello Lukeba could replace Ibrahima Konate

Analyst Ben Mattinson described him as the “perfect” left centre-back slash left-back hybrid, which could mean that he could move over to the left side of the pairing with the captain on the right in order to replace Konate.

The Leipzig star’s reliability, first and foremost, is what may attract Slot to him. In 103 appearances in Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga for Lyon and Leipzig combined, the 22-year-old star has not made a single error that has directly led to a goal for the opposition.

On that evidence, it’s hardly a surprise that Mattinson has also referred to him as “one of the best defensive prospects in world football” and one of “the best U21 centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues.”

In comparison, Konate has made five errors leading to goals in just 82 appearances in the Premier League, which suggests that he is nowhere near as reliable as Lukeba in that sense.

This means that Slot could rely on the £74m-rated star more to deliver consistent performances without making critical mistakes that create chances for the opposition.

24/25 season

Konate (Premier League)

Lukeba (Bundesliga)

Appearances

31

23

Tackles + interceptions per game

1.8

2.0

Dribbled past per game

0.3x

0.3x

Ground duel success rate

61%

65%

Aerial duel success rate

71%

65%

Error led to shot

2

0

Error led to goal

1

0

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Lukeba also made slightly more tackles and interceptions per game on average at league level this season, whilst also winning a higher percentage of his ground duels.

Konate appears to have the edge over him when it comes to winning aerial duels, although the Leipzig star is not weak in that respect, but overall, the Liverpool defender comes out second-best.

These statistics indicate that the Reds number five should be concerned about his place in the starting XI if Lukeba walks through the door, because the young titan has the qualities to displace him next season.

Slot could improve his team by signing the French star to provide a more reliable presence at the heart of the defence in comparison to Konate, due to his lack of errors in the Bundesliga and Ligue 1, which is why this could be an excellent addition for the club.

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The summer transfer window officially opens for business next month, and Leeds United are likely to be busy as they prepare for a season in the Premier League.

One player who is on the club’s radar is Tottenham Hotspur winger Manor Solomon, who spent the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Elland Road, and the forward is reportedly open to talks over a permanent switch to West Yorkshire.

The 25-year-old attacker ended the season with ten goals and 12 assists in the Championship, and Leeds are now eyeing a new target who could be amazing for Solomon in the Premier League.

Leeds eyeing Premier League defender

According to journalist Alan Nixon, via his Patreon (25/05/2025), Leeds United are eyeing a new target in the form of West Ham United left-back Aaron Cresswell.

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The reporter claims that Daniel Farke is lining up a move to snap up the experienced defender on a free transfer when his contract with the Hammers expires at the end of next month.

Nixon adds, however, that there is also interest from celebrity-owned Championship side Wrexham, who have just been promoted from League One, which means that there is competition for the 35-year-old star’s signature.

The journalist also reveals that Leeds would view the veteran full-back as a squad player, rather than a guaranteed starter, but that does not mean that he would not be an incredibly valuable addition, particularly for Solomon.

Why Leeds should sign Aaron Cresswell

Junior Firpo’s contract is set to expire this summer, and it still remains to be seen whether or not he will put pen to paper on an extension, which means that there is a vacant spot at left-back to be filled as it stands.

Cresswell, as Nixon’s report suggests, may not come in to start all 38 games in the Premier League next term, but he is a vastly-experienced top-flight performer who could be relied upon to deliver quality displays when called upon.

Capped three times by England, he played 312 Premier League matches for the Hammers, and 369 games in total, during his time at the London Stadium, which means that Farke would have a defender who has been there and done it at that level.

24/25 Premier League

Aaron Cresswell

Appearances

18

Starts

10

Pass accuracy

87%

Dribbled past

0.1x

Ground duel success rate

67%

Aerial duel success rate

50%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Cresswell, who played as a left-back or as a wide centre-back in a three, started ten Premier League games this season and delivered solid defensive displays.

The veteran full-back, whose ball-striking was described as “lovely” by teammate Ryan Fredericks when lauding his left foot, has shown that he still has the physicality and quality to dominate opposition defenders in duels, whilst rarely being dribbled past.

This suggests that he could be amazing for Solomon, who is a direct winger who wants to constantly attack to score and assist goals, because he is not a defensively weak left-back who needs constant support and doubling up from his forward ahead of him.

This means that the Israel international, should he sign permanently at Elland Road this summer, could love to have Cresswell behind him because his defensively solidity could allow him more freedom to stay higher up the pitch to influence games in the final third.

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