Wrexham are currently preparing for a season in the Championship after they finished second in League One to earn promotion up to the second tier.

The Red Dragons are yet to make their first signing since the end of last season, but there will be plenty of work going on behind the scenes to identify targets to improve the team.

Phil Parkinson will have to judge which of his players are ready to make the step up to the Championship after a season in League One, which means that some difficult decisions could have to be made.

Why Thomas O'Connor may be replaced

One player who could be replaced as a regular starter is left-sided central defender Thomas O’Connor, who has been at the club since they were in the National League.

The former Southampton academy graduate has never played above League One level in his career to date, and was a regular starter – starting 25 of his 31 appearances in the 2024/25 campaign – for Wrexham this season.

O’Connor was, however, an unused substitute in five of the last seven matches and it remains to be seen whether or not he will be able to handle the step up to the Championship, a level that he has never played at before.

Transfer Focus

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

The BBC reported earlier this month that Wrexham, Norwich, Birmingham, and Sheffield United are among the teams interested in a deal to sign Harry Darling on a free transfer from Swansea City.

His contract with the Welsh side is due to expire at the end of this month, and the Red Dragons are one of the sides looking to snap him up for nothing.

Why Darling would be an upgrade on O'Connor

Parkinson must push to convince Darling to make a move across Wales rather than joining Birmingham, Norwich, or Sheffield United, as he would improve the club’s options at the back.

Despite being right-footed, the 25-year-old Englishman often plays on the left-side of a centre-back pairing and this means that he could take O’Connor’s place as the left-sided centre-back in a back three at Wrexham.

Unlike the current Red Dragons defender, Darling is an experienced Championship defender who has made 108 appearances at that level, which means that he would arrive at the Racecourse as a proven second tier star.

He would be a relatively risk-free signing as someone who has been there and done it and could immediately improve Wrexham’s team, particularly when you take his performances this season into account.

Appearances

31

39

Goals

0

5

Clearances per game

2.9

5.0

Dribbled past per game

0.5x

0.3x

Ground duel success rate

53%

66%

Aerial duel success rate

57%

64%

As you can see in the table above, Darling’s defensive work in the Championship, in terms of his success rate in duels and how often he was beaten by opposition attackers, was more impressive than O’Connor’s was at a lower level.

This suggests that the Swansea star, who was hailed as “outstanding” by former boss Luke Williams, is a big upgrade on the current Wrexham left centre-back, particularly from a defensive perspective.

Darling also, as shown in the table, scored five goals from centre-back, compared to O’Connor’s barren return in League One, and this suggests that he would offer a much greater goal threat in the 2025/26 campaign.

The English titan, who ranked in the top 31% of centre-backs in the league for progressive passes per 90 (3.70), is a ball-playing defender who has shown that he can mix technical quality and class on the ball with strength and reliable out of possession at Championship level.

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Therefore, he would be the perfect signing, as a proven second tier star, to come in as a big upgrade on their left-sided centre-back position this summer.

After watching on as Liverpool seemingly jumped ahead of them in the race to sign Florian Wirtz, Bayern Munich have reportedly turned their focus towards payback in the form of recruiting one particular Anfield star this summer.

Liverpool submit first Wirtz offer

Whilst it was Manchester City and Bayern who found themselves battling for Wirtz’s signature, it has been Liverpool who have grabbed hold of the headlines. Sending shockwaves through Europe, the Reds have stolen a march on their rivals and are reportedly set to sign the Bayer Leverkusen star in what could quite easily be the deal of the summer in all regards.

Having already lifted the Premier League in their first season under Arne Slot, it’s clear that those at Anfield mean business after deciding against splashing the cash last summer.

Alongside Wirtz, rumours have also indicated that Liverpool are pushing to sign the midfielder’s Leverkusen teammate, Jeremie Frimpong, to replace the Real Madrid-bound Trent Alexander-Arnold and Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez.

Liverpool’s interest in Wirtz is a fairly open secret already and Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes had his say on the potential move earlier this week, telling reporters: “There is concrete interest from Liverpool, but there’s no more to say right now. Florian is our player.”

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Meanwhile, on Bayern Munich’s end, they’ve been left with no choice but to turn their attention elsewhere. And that could yet deal the Premier League champions a frustrating blow amid rumours that the German giants have set their sights on signing an Anfield star who Slot loves.

Bayern make contact to sign Cody Gakpo

According to Sky Sports’ Florian Plettenberg, Bayern Munich have now made contact to sign Cody Gakpo. Club chief Max Eberl is reportedly a fan of the Dutchman and has now added him to a list of left-wing options which already includes Rafael Leao and Brighton’s Karou Mitoma.

What’s more, given that they’re set to welcome Wirtz this summer, Liverpool and FSG are open to selling Gakpo if the right offer arrives. Whether Slot would approve such an exit is the big question. Gakpo has been a man transformed under his countryman, scoring 18 goals in all competitions and claiming a spot in Liverpool’s front three as a result.

Slot hasn’t hesitated to praise the former PSV man, either. He told reporters when asked about his winger earlier in the season: “In the second half of last season Cody scored a lot of goals so he’s been a good player for Liverpool for a long time now. He continues doing that and that’s a good thing. For me, he is a regular starter.”

Also dubbed “excellent” by former Liverpool and Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole back in October, Gakpo is not someone that Liverpool should be keen to lose in the coming months.

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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Tottenham Hotspur find themselves under a new manager in Thomas Frank and he could now pounce to bring one of his favourites to N17, according to a report.

Frank's aim to build on Tottenham Hotspur's Europa League success

Winning the Europa League was a watershed moment for Tottenham after 17 years of waiting, but the mission for all connected with the club now is to build on the foundations that Ange Postecoglou laid come next term.

Daniel Levy took exception to a poor Premier League points tally from the Australian. However, Thomas Frank now has a magnificent platform to build on, courtesy of Spurs qualifying for the Champions League off the back of their success in Bilbao.

Opting not to sugarcoat things, Chris Sutton proposed the theory that Frank will be under pressure to deliver immediately at Spurs, claiming the different expectation levels Brentford and Tottenham leave the Dane with little leeway to work with in N17.

He stated: “Thomas Frank has done a brilliant job at Brentford, but this is a whole different kettle of fish. Because of the expectation at Tottenham, Frank won’t get time to get his feet under the table. He will be under pressure from the off.”

Later, he added: “The aim for Frank will be to keep them in the Champions League, and whether that is by making the top four or five, that is not going to be easy.”

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Brentford duo Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa could join Tottenham, if Frank opts to go down the route of raiding his former club for talent, though it is hard to imagine the Bees letting either of their star men leave on the cheap.

Nevertheless, it appears that the 51-year-old could instead look to another of his favourites at the Gtech Community Stadium if reports are to be believed.

Tottenham preparing bid to sign Brentford midfielder Christian Norgaard

According to CaughtOffside, Tottenham are preparing a bid for Brentford midfielder Christian Norgaard and the Denmark international is viewed as a priority addition by Frank to strengthen his engine room.

Spurs are set to submit an offer between the £17-20 million mark, though the Bees are reluctant to see the 31-year-old depart this summer and could inflate his price to ward off interest.

Christian Norgaard’s reliability under Thomas Frank

Appearances

249

Goals

18

Assists

22

Winning an extraordinary 163 duels on Premier League duty last term, the Brentford captain is someone who has an ‘exceptional’ understanding of Frank’s system, making him indispensable in West London regardless of who is in charge.

Stockpiling in key areas would be a wise idea for Spurs amid their injury crisis last season, which rarely saw Postecoglou having a full-strength side to pick from in a tumultuous campaign.

Norgaard is a symbol of reliability for Brentford, and it makes sense to recruit experience if circumstances allow for it, though the Bees may prove to be too tricky to deal with in the end.

Chelsea are involved in the FIFA Club World Cup in the USA this summer, looking to become the inaugural winners of the new-look competition.

The Blues took advantage of the first summer transfer window by signing striker Liam Delap from Ipswich Town, with Todd Boehly activating the forward’s £30m release clause.

Delap has been included in Enzo Maresca’s Club World Cup squad, as are fellow summer signings goalkeeper Mike Penders, centre-back Mamadou Sarr and midfielder Dario Essugo.

However, there is still plenty of time for Chelsea to make more signings, with the second market not closing until September 1.

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With more arrivals on the cards at Stamford Bridge, Grok, the AI tool on X, has predicted five more signings Chelsea could make this summer.

AI predicts 5 players Chelsea will sign this summer 1 Victor Osimhen Napoli (£60m)

Starting with another striker after Delap, Chelsea continue to be linked with a move for Victor Osimhen.

After spending last season on loan at Galatasaray, Osimhen has returned to Napoli but could be on the way out this summer.

The Nigeria international’s entourage were working on a Stamford Bridge transfer, and Grok say a £60m transfer would see Osimhen ‘provide a focal point in attack, complementing Delap and Nicolas Jackson’.

2 Jamie Gittens Borussia Dortmund (£55m)

A player who Chelsea wanted to sign before the Club World Cup, Jamie Gittens could still make the move to London in the second summer transfer window, and Grok can see a move materialising.

The Blues had a £42m bid rejected for the English winger, and Grok say they’ll need to get to £55m for a transfer to happen.

Grok say ‘Gittens would bring pace, creativity, and goal-scoring ability to the flanks, fitting Maresca’s attacking system’.

3 Jarrad Branthwaite Everton (£50m)

Despite signing Sarr, more central defenders could also be on the to-do list at Stamford Bridge to rival the likes of Tosin Adarabioyo and Levi Colwill.

Everton star Jarrad Branthwaite has been catching Chelsea’s eye, and there have been rumours of the Blues weighing up an offer later in the window.

A figure of at least £50m has been mooted by AI, however, stories elsewhere suggest the England international could cost more at £75m.

4 Alejandro Garnacho Man Utd (£40m)

After coming close to a deal in January, Man Utd winger Alejandro Garnacho is set to depart Old Trafford and has told his agents he is interested in a move to Stamford Bridge.

The Argentine wants to remain in the Premier League, which should give the Blues an advantage, with Grok believing a deal could be worth £40m.

Garnacho can play on the left or right-hand side, so could be a replacement for Jadon Sancho, who returned to the Red Devils following his Chelsea loan.

5 Marc Guehi Crystal Palace (£50m)

It might not be all new faces this summer, though, with Marc Guehi linked with a return to Stamford Bridge, four years on after leaving for Crystal Palace.

Crystal Palace

155

Swansea City

59

Chelsea

2

England

23

The England international has been going from strength to strength at Selhurst Park but now has just a year left on his current contract, resulting in rumours of an exit this summer.

Claims in May said that Guehi was tempted to move back to Chelsea and that the Blues were confident of a deal. Now, with Champions League football on offer, that confidence could have grown.

It looked as if it would go right down to the wire, but Wrexham would clinch automatic promotion out of League One with a game to spare in the end.

The match that would finally seal their unbelievable leap up to the Championship was an unforgettable 3-0 win over Charlton Athletic, with the opening goalscorer on the day being midfield maestro Oliver Rathbone.

He cemented his place in Red Dragons’ history when powering home a fantastic effort early into the first half, and he will hope he can kick on in a Wrexham shirt even more when the challenge of the Championship officially arrives in North Wales.

That said, one new addition could potentially usurp him in that midfield pecking order…

Latest Wrexham transfer news

This off-season could see the Red Dragons conduct their business in a cutthroat manner, with goalscoring icon Paul Mullin rumoured to be on the move to Wigan Athletic, despite boasting a bumper 105 goals in total at the Racehouse Ground.

Transfer Focus

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

Therefore, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Welsh giants move away from solely relying on Rathbone for creativity in the middle of the park, with journalist Graeme Bailey now revealing that Wrexham are monitoring Tom Cairney’s situation as they hunt more second-tier-ready stars.

Bailey does suggest that Cairney’s preference is to stick it out with his long-term employers in Fulham, but Wrexham haven’t buried all their hope just yet when it comes to landing the skilful 34-year-old, knowing full well he would significantly enhance their options in the middle.

Rathbone, in particular, might need to watch out.

Why Cairney would be an upgrade on Rathbone

Wrexham entertained League One audiences all campaign long, as the likes of Sam Smith, Elliot Lee, and Steven Fletcher all stood out in the attacking positions.

Rathbone’s name will also be chucked into the mix as another captivating performer, with the former Manchester United youth product ending his own memorable individual season with eight league goals next to his name, which is the same amount both Fletcher and Lee managed, and was only bettered by 18-goal hero Smith.

Moreover, the 28-year-old would tally up a further three assists as a creative machine in the middle, alongside also showing off his grit and determination by averaging 5.3 successful duels per second-tier contest.

Whilst Rathbone is undoubtedly a gem in the lower reaches of the EFL, he hasn’t been as comfortable when jumping up to the Championship in the past, with just a mediocre eight goal contributions collected from 80 appearances at the level when on the books of Rotherham United. To further pile on the misery, he has also been relegated from the unforgiving division.

As a result, Phil Parkinson might well deem it necessary to seal an upgrade on Rathbone to win his team a more accomplished Championship pro centrally, with Cairney ticking all the right boxes.

After all, unlike Rathbone, Cairney has tasted lots of success at the punishing level in the past, with an unbelievable three promotions coming his way from his mammoth tally of 318 Championship outings.

21/22

26

3

4

19/20

42

8

3

17/18

37

6

5

16/17

47

13

11

15/16

39

8

6

14/15

39

3

6

13/14

37

5

8

12/13

10

0

0

11/12

27

0

4

10/11

22

1

4

He might just be what Parkinson’s men need to adjust to their difficult new terrain swimmingly, with the two-time Scotland international amassing a mightily impressive 96 goals and assists combined across his many seasons at the level too.

Hailed as “outstanding” by Scott Parker when the pair were together at Craven Cottage, Cairney has even kicked on to become a Premier League-calibre performer in West London, with two of his 16 goal contributions in the elite league coming about just last season, irrespective of the Fulham veteran now being 34 years of age.

Rathbone won’t be completely chucked to one side, but if it’s a toss-up between the 28-year-old starting or Cairney starting, the reliable Cottagers servant will come out on top every single time, especially as Wrexham aim to consolidate their status as a Championship-capable outfit.

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ByKelan Sarson Jun 9, 2025

Manchester United are set for a summer of significant changes and things are starting to take shape regarding one key issue that could alter the dynamics of their engine room.

Manchester United set for midfield overhaul

Becoming an early runner in the Red Devils’ quest to rejuvenate their midfield this summer, Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze has been mentioned as an ambitious Old Trafford target following his return of 16 goal contributions last season.

Admittedly, there could be plenty of change on that front by the time Ruben Amorim leads his side out for the first time in the Premier League next term, and rumours are beginning to fly off the shelf regarding the scale of Manchester United’s rebuild.

Internally, talk surrounding Bruno Fernandes and a potential move to Al Hilal hasn’t been pleasant for supporters. Regardless, Amorim has a gut feeling his captain could stick around despite reports to the contrary.

While fans await a resolution, it is important to note that Fernandes isn’t the only midfielder who could leave Amorim short at an early stage in the transfer window.

Kobbie Mainoo could leave Manchester United for £70 million if appropriate interest arises for his services. Ultimately, selling fan favourites won’t be something the Red Devils want to do habitually, but everyone has their price and Mainoo’s sale would count as pure profit as the club looks to align with PSR guidelines.

Matheus Cunha has arrived from Wolverhampton Wanderers, offering some excitement in a period where supporters could see several first-team regulars sold off to fund a long-overdue rebuild.

Bringing the average wage down will be a priority for Sir Jim Ratcliffe, making an exit for Casemiro an obvious solution at the Red Devils amid his £350,000 per week salary.

With all that said, there has now been a significant update on the engine room front that could make Manchester United’s thinking alot clearer when it comes to the level of work needed to alter their midfield, per recent developments.

Bruno Fernandes close to agreeing Manchester United exit

Taking to social media platform X, journalist and commentator Ben Jacobs has noted that Al Hilal now believe they are ‘close’ to finding an agreement with Fernandes but have told the United star he has just this week to decide.

The journalist explained: “Al-Hilal now believe an agreement with Bruno Fernandes is close after a week of positive meetings. Fernandes is currently deliberating with his family.

“A key factor in whether Fernandes agrees will be if the move is also right for his family. It will be more than just a football decision. Hilal want a final answer by Friday. No formal approach or bid yet to Manchester United, but Hilal’s belief is a sale will be sanctioned if Fernandes asks to leave. MUFC still insist they don’t want to sell their captain.”

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Now deliberating with his family, the end of this week is believed to be the cut-off point where a decision will have to be made one way or another, creating a tense five days before a final outcome is met.

Becoming a modern-day icon at Old Trafford, Fernandes has registered 98 goals and 87 assists in 290 appearances for the Red Devils, winning an FA Cup and the Carabao Cup during his time in Manchester.

Nevertheless, he is now 31 and won’t have the luxury of being able to compete in European football next year, hence why reports suggest the Premier League giants could be tempted to sell for a fee that could reach £100 million.

Tough decisions need to be made to place Manchester United back at the top, and this one will weigh heavy on Amorim as he battles between raising funds to buy reinforcements and retaining key stars.

West Ham United are now battling a rival Premier League club for the signature of a goal-scoring midfielder, according to a report.

Hammers set sights on midfield rebuild

West Ham signed off the season with a 3-1 victory over Ipswich Town, but in truth the 2024-25 campaign was very underwhelming, finishing in just 14th place, and Graham Potter may feel that his squad needs major surgery in the summer transfer window.

Potter has now brought in Kyle Macaulay as his head of recruitment, who the manager worked with at Brighton, and the new arrival has wasted no time identifying potential targets, with a deal for a new midfielder now believed to be edging closer to completion.

Indeed, the Hammers have now reached an agreement for the signing of Club Brugge’s Raphael Onyedika, with the Nigerian now in line to move to the London Stadium in a deal worth around £20m, but he is not the only midfielder they’ve set their sights on.

According to a report from Claret & Hugh, West Ham are now in a straight shoot-out with Everton for the signature of Burnley star Josh Brownhill, with former Irons boss David Moyes known to be a long-term admirer of the 29-year-old.

Brownhill is out of contract with the Clarets, meaning he will be available on a free transfer this summer, should his current employers be unable to tie him down to a new deal, although their pursuit of Rennes midfielder Jordan James suggests they’re not holding out much hope.

Leeds United are also named as potential suitors for the midfielder, who certainly caught the eye with some of his performances for Burnley during their promotion-winning 2024-25 campaign.

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"Out of this world" Brownhill played major role in Burnley promotion

The Manchester-born midfielder was a key player for the Clarets, displaying his versatility by regularly featuring in both defensive and attacking midfield roles, but his performances on the front foot were particularly impressive.

In 42 Championship outings, the Englishman collected 24 goal contributions, picking up 18 goals and six assists, and he certainly stood out to commentator Phil Bird, who singled the Burnley star out for praise after scoring a brace against Millwall last month.

The fact a transfer fee will not be required could make signing the former Bristol City man an attractive proposition for West Ham, but there are doubts over whether he would be able to make a similar impact at the London Stadium.

Brownhill has 111 Premier League appearances to his name, during which time he has picked up just six goals and six assists, so while the maestro could be a good squad player for Potter, given his versatility, he is unlikely to take West Ham’s midfield to the next level.

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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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.

Arsenal supporters are set to see a plethora of different stories come to light about Andrea Berta’s transfer activity in the coming months, with Mikel Arteta looking to restructure the squad and build a Premier League-winning side.

When asked about planning for next season, after Arsenal were confirmed as runners-up behind Liverpool, the Gunners boss admitted to getting “goosebumps” when thinking of the summer ahead.

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He’s departing imminently.

2

By
Emilio Galantini

Jun 4, 2025

A lot of noise is centered around their search for a new striker, with Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko both being worked on by Arsenal (BBC), but the north Londoners could reinforce a host of other areas.

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

Arsenal held talks over a deal for Dean Huijsen, before his switch to Real Madrid, and it is believed that Berta is actively pursuing a new winger as well, according to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg.

They appear set to attack the market with gusto after missing out on this year’s title to Liverpool by 10 points, and Arteta has commenced work behind-the-scenes, by his own admission.

“Now, immediately,” said Arteta when he was asked about planning for the new season, after their last game of 24/25 against Southampton (via Sky).

“The moment I start to think about that, I feel goosebumps and excitement. We already have some things that we are discussing and making decisions. Everything that is planned for pre-season and the first few weeks of the season is already done two, three months ago. So we are now really good.

“My day will look already different. There are a lot of things to do, but it won’t be, especially with that feeling in my tummy, that [feeling of] a game is coming up. It will be a different one and that changes everything.”

A lot of planning has also gone into a pre-summer deal for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi.

After months of rumoured talks, Fabrizio Romano finally gave his famous ‘here we go’ to the deal recently, and the BBC reported that a medical had been scheduled for the £51 million Spain international.

However, Zubimendi himself threw a spanner in the works with his quotes from this week, telling Radio Nacional that the medical claims were actually untrue.

Arsenal are set to sign Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad

After this message, and a similar denial of Arsenal’s advances from Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay, journalist Graeme Bailey has shared a comforting update on the complex sitiuation which is confusing a lot of supporters.

Speaking to The Boot Room, Bailey said that Zubimendi to Arsenal is in fact a “done deal” – and the club are not worried about the 26-year-old’s surprise interview or the potential for Real Madrid to swoop in.

“Arsenal are aware of the quotes from Zubimendi – but from what I am told, the deal is considered done at the Emirates,” said the reporter.

“They are not worried, they knew these things might come up when Xabi Alonso was appointed.

“From what I am told, this is happening – it is a done deal. But obviously, the fans want to see that picture of him holding the shirt up, signed and sealed. Until that point, speculation is open to continue.”

The “world-class” midfield technician, who’s been a star mainstay for Sociedad and helped Spain seize Euro 2024 glory last year, has been a top target since January, with talks advancing as far back as winter (The Mail).

Losing out on Zubimendi at this stage would be a hammer blow for Arteta, especially considering the uncertainty surrounding Thomas Partey and Jorginho confirmed to be leaving.