All posts by z3u9t.icu

It’s not too long to wait now for Manchester City fans as next month’s Premier League opener away at Wolverhampton Wanderers gradually sneaks into view.

This summer has been a busy one for Pep Guardiola so far, as the Spaniard attempts to restore the Citizens to their former glories after a disappointing 24/25 campaign, with James Trafford the next standout purchase on the City agenda, after already snapping up the likes of Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Tijjani Reijnders for mega bucks.

Trafford will cost around the £27m mark to bring back to his boyhood club, with the Burnley shot-stopper set to undergo a medical very soon to officially seal the deal.

City are unlikely to be done there as they continue to revamp their options, as a fresh approach is now in the offing for City to land a long-term target to complement the Englishman at the back.

Man City weigh up £50m approach

Burnley aren’t the only Premier League side wary of City’s increased summer spending, with West Ham United also hesitant as Guardiola and Co begin to look at Lucas Paqueta as a potential buy in the middle of the park.

Reports have suggested that the Citizens could snap up the services of the Brazilian for around the £40m price range, having excited those at the London Stadium with his full-throttle displays centrally.

For £10m more, however, City could fix a big problem area in their XI, with a new development from football journalist Dean Jones, when appearing on the Transfers from Paradise podcast, revealing that City have made a fresh approach for Newcastle United star Tino Livramento.

The Magpies, of course, won’t want to lose Livramento as Alexander Isak is also edging towards the St James’ Park exit door.

But, it remains to be seen whether £50m would be enough to prise the 22-year-old away from Tyneside, with Livramento going down as a better signing than Paqueta in finally offering City a fresh defender down their depleted right flank.

Why Livramento would be a better signing than Paqueta

In Paqueta’s defence, he has proven himself to be a bright spark for the Hammers when he hasn’t been embroiled in some off-field issues, as seen in his weighty 18 goals and 14 assists for West Ham over 120 appearances.

However, there is no guarantee he will upset the first team apple cart if he were to switch the London Stadium for the Etihad, with City very much well-stocked in the middle of the park, with Reijnders also joining Guardiola’s camp this summer.

On top of that, the Spaniard also has promising talents such as Claudio Echeverri, whom he can call upon in the number ten spot, alongside Jeremy Doku, who has shown flashes of his excellence donning City sky blue, when collecting 14 goals and 20 assists down the left flank, where Paqueta is also comfortable playing.

His versatility might well have come in handy, but it’s been a clear issue for City since Joao Cancelo’s exit that they are in dire need of an expansive, attack-minded full-back on the right, with Livramento emerging as the perfect candidate to boost the Citizens in this spot on the pitch.

RB

87

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6

RM

36

3

11

LB

19

0

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LM

4

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Across his career to date, the one-time senior England international has stood out as a forward-thinking defender, with a bumper three goals and 11 assists even coming his way when lining up as a right midfielder.

Away from just his output, however, last season in the Premier League also showed off Livramento’s drive and determination to defend valiantly for Eddie Howe’s men, as the 22-year-old bettered stand-in City option Matheus Nunes when it came to ball recovery numbers, with Livramento winning 5.1 on average next to his counterpart’s lesser 2.7.

The hope will be that Livramento can only get better when adjusting to his new environment, having been praised for his “aggressive” and “frontfoot” approach by Howe regularly, on top of also being lauded as possessing a “bright future” in the game by ex-defensive great Ashley Cole.

Whilst Paqueta would no doubt offer City quality as well, he might be more impactful from a background role.

Whereas, the “outstanding” £50m ace – as football journalist Jacob Whitehead has glowingly labelled him – has the potential to be City’s starter on the right for many years to come.

Man City agree deal and book medical with British star now on verge of joining

The Citizens are on the verge of addressing a key position.

BySean Markus Clifford Jul 25, 2025

Celtic are striving forwards under Brendan Rodgers and another action-packed season is in store for the Bhoys, which could now lead to a significant development at Parkhead.

Celtic find themselves pursuing several arrivals

Five signings have come through the door officially this summer for Celtic to strengthen their bid for another Scottish Premiership title. However, recent reports suggest plenty more could be on the way before too long.

Wycombe Wanderers striker Richard Kone is on the Bhoys’ radar and could be a big-money arrival at the £7 million mark, though any thought of him coming in at Parkhead may hinge on the future of Daizen Maeda.

Of course, Brendan Rodgers has already got one answer to his multi-faceted striker quest after confirming that Shin Yamada will join Celtic from Kawasaki Frontale after weeks of speculation hinting the Japanese forward is set for a move to Glasgow.

During the week, Celtic saw off Sporting Lisbon in expert fashion courtesy of goals from Reo Hatate and Luke McCowan. Speaking post-match, the Hoops’ Irish boss praised his side’s excellent tactical execution against a distinguished opponent.

He stated: “Performance wise it was outstanding. We made another step in our fitness and tactical idea with some of the players coming in. Overall it was a very, very good performance against a very good team. Tactically we were excellent with our pressure and pressing and some of our football was outstanding.

Celtic agree to offload £16k-p/w earner as deal agreed with Champions League club

The Bhoys are set to free up some funds…

BySean Markus Clifford Jul 17, 2025

“We maybe lacked a little bit in the final third at times just to finish off some great moves but other than that it was a very, very good workout for us.”

In spite of the Hoops’ display, Rodgers still has work to do in tailoring his side, and he will need to make sure his key players stick around for another tilt at domestic and European success.

Celtic closing in on bumper new Daizen Maeda contract

According to Football Insider, Celtic are pushing ahead with their attempts to tie down Daizen Maeda, and he is said to be willing to commit long-term with one demand – the Hoops match his ambitions.

Rodgers views the Japan international as a central part of his future plans and is willing to build his entire team around him, with talks open over a new deal amid interest from the Premier League in his services.

Daizen Maeda’s importance to Celtic

Appearances

158

Goals

62

Assists

28

Shedding some further insight, O’Rourke stated: “It makes a lot of sense for Celtic to try and keep hold of Maeda. If Celtic want to continue their dominance in Scotland, they’re going to have to keep hold of their best players, and there’s no doubt Maeda is amongst those.

“He’s under contract until 2027, so they’re looking to extend that and give him bumper new terms just to keep the player happy and ward off interest from Premier League clubs.

“There was talk that Brentford and Tottenham were interested in him.The Japan international was their top goalscorer last season, so he isn’t going to be an easy player to replace if they do end up losing him.”

With 33 goals to his name last season, Maeda became Celtic’s most reliable option whether wide left or as a centre-forward and is widely viewed as an indispensable player in Glasgow’s east end.

Only two years remain on his deal, so it would make perfect sense for the Bhoys to tie him up on an extended contract before his future becomes a main topic of conversation.

Tottenham Hotspur are now “seriously” keen on signing an “unstoppable” attacking midfielder as an “alternative” to RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons, journalist Sebastien Vidal has revealed.

Spurs step up pursuit of new attacking midfielder

Tottenham will be disappointed not to have a deal for an attacking midfielder wrapped up by now, having triggered the £60m release clause in Morgan Gibbs-White’s Nottingham Forest contract, although there is a still a strong chance he ends up at N17.

That is according to Football Insider’s transfer correspondent Pete O’Rourke, who said: “He was due to take a medical last week, and then Forest obviously put these hurdles up.

“Gibbs-White has had to go back to Forest to continue pre-season training this week as well, when he thought in his head he was going to be a Spurs player.

“The player has his heart set on a move to Spurs, and we expect that will happen once an agreement is made between Forest and Tottenham.”

However, the Forest star is not the only option on the shortlist, with it recently being revealed that RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons has “begun talks” to join Spurs, although there could be fierce competition for his signature, with Chelsea and Arsenal also keen.

The Lilywhites’ London rivals have also entered negotiations with Simons’ representatives, meaning it could be difficult to get a deal for the Dutchman over the line, and a perhaps more attainable target from the Premier League is also being considered.

Tottenham now very keen on signing "incredible" £50m Palmer-esque forward

Spurs are in the race for an attacker.

ByDominic Lund Jul 21, 2025

That is according to Vidal on X, who states Tottenham are “seriously eyeing Jacob Ramsey as a potential alternative to Xavi Simons”.

Ramsey is viewed as a “dynamic” and “creative” midfielder, and Spurs are “very keen” on securing his signature, but a deal is likely to be on the expensive side, given that the Aston Villa man is valued at £50m by his current employers.

"Unstoppable" Ramsey impressing at Villa

There are some signs the Villa attacker could be a solid alternative option to Simons, with Jamie Carragher singling him out for praise last season, saying: “He is a machine this fella. You see him open up his legs and run. He almost looks unstoppable.”

The 24-year-old also caught the eye in the Champions League, proving to be a constant threat in his side’s 3-0 victory against Young Boys.

That said, the Birmingham-born ace wasn’t exactly prolific in the Premier League, with Simons and Gibbs-White getting on the scoresheet much more regularly in the 2024-25 campaign.

Player

League appearances

Goals

Assists

Morgan Gibbs-White

34

7

10

Xavi Simons

25

10

7

Jacob Ramsey

29

1

5

As such, Ramsey should only be targeted if Tottenham miss out on both Gibbs-White and Simons.

Sunderland fans must be overwhelmed by the amount of quickfire business their club is involved in ahead of the Premier League getting underway next month.

Indeed, around £67m has been forked out already to land Enzo Le Fee, Habib Diarra, and Noah Sadiki, with this excessive spending necessary if the Black Cats want to mount a serious challenge at staving off the dreaded top-flight drop zone.

The ecstasy of promotion to the elite league has quickly been followed by excitement over what the next major signing Sunderland could make, with a few more expensive buys reportedly on their radar.

Sunderland's next summer signings

The whirlwind transfer activity coming out of the Stadium of Light shows no signs of slowing down.

Transfer Focus

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

Reports filtering out of Wearside indicate that their next intriguing purchase will come courtesy of Club Brugge winger Chemsdine Talbi, with the 20-year-old once being tipped to join the likes of RB Leipzig in Germany, but could now be Le Bris’ next promising capture at around the £19.5m mark.

Yet, although the youngster coming in from Belgium possesses bags of potential, an even more exciting pick-up looks to be in the works involving the Black Cats landing Real Madrid sensation Gonzalo Garcia this summer.

As per reports from Spain, Sunderland have placed a bid worth £26m for the LaLiga attacker, with a £40m buy-back clause inserted into the deal to allow the Los Blancos to bring Garcia back to his boyhood employers if he explodes into life even more in England.

Off the back of his clinical, poacher-like abilities being on full display at the Club World Cup, Garcia could go down as an even more exciting signing than Talbi as Le Bris attempts to get the very best out of another up-and-coming talent, having already worked his magic on the likes of Jobe Bellingham.

Why Garcia is a more exciting signing than Talbi

The 20-year-old winger will be an enthralling signing in his own right, with Talbi’s strengths centring on the fact he can line up down both the right and left wing for Le Bris’ men this coming campaign. He’a also a goalscorer, boasting seven strikers in all competitions last season, two of which came about on Europe’s grandest stage in the Champions League.

Yet, Garcia out at the Club World Cup – from only five overall clashes – is just three strikes off matching Talbi’s entire season total for Brugge, with those instinctive finishes coming against the likes of Italian superpower Juventus and Bellingham’s new Black and Yellow employers.

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Amazingly, despite faces such as World Cup-winning Kylian Mbappe also leading the line for Xabi Alonso’s men, Garcia continues to steal the limelight, with his potency not just reserved for the pitches of the Club World Cup, as seen in his blistering 36 strikes playing in the Blancos youth picture.

On the contrary, his potential new £19.5m teammate can only boast a weaker 15 strikes across his playing days to date, with Talbi perhaps not ready to be an immediate starter down the right or left wing either, when you consider Le Bris has figures such as Patrick Roberts and Enzo Le Fee he can call into action on these flanks.

Whereas, in the case of the breakout Madrid number 30, he looks ready to challenge Wilson Isidor’s starting spot in England’s elite league, having been hailed as “incredible” off the back of his rich vein of goalscoring form in the pre-season tournament by scout Jacek Kulig.

He also has a goal and assist next to his name in both La Liga and Copa Del Rey action – but instead of sticking it out at the Santiago Bernabeu where options might still be limited even as he terrorises the likes of Juventus – Garcia could soon fancy a switch to Le Bris’ men to try and be a main starter week in week out.

After all, football analyst Ben Mattinson has even labelled the £26m man as a striker who “scores goals for fun.”

The proof will soon be in the pudding if he does relocate to Sunderland and his goals keep the Black Cats up in the Premier League.

Dream squad Sunderland could build: £112m spent on 7 signings after Talbi

Sunderland looks ready to take the Premier League by storm, with this being potentially what their dream squad could look like very soon.

1 ByKelan Sarson Jul 6, 2025

Thomas Frank will face a huge task during his first season as Tottenham Hotspur manager, after his appointment from Brentford a couple of weeks ago.

The Dane has taken the reins from Ange Postecoglou, with the hierarchy wanting the side to reach the next step during his tenure in charge in North London.

After the Europa League triumph last season, the Lilywhites will enter the Champions League, a situation that presents Frank with his first challenge as the club’s boss.

He will need to strike a balance between Europe and the Premier League, needing to rise up the table throughout 2025/26 whilst being competitive in the biggest club competition on the continent.

If the new boss is to be a success, he will need Daniel Levy to back him in the transfer market and hand him the funds to strengthen in key areas and strike a balance with his players.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new signings this summer

The attacking department in North London has been Spurs’ main focus over the last couple of weeks, with numerous names on their radar ahead of a potential transfer.

The likes of Arnaud Kalimuendo and Harvey Elliott have both been firmly on the radar of the Lilywhites, but as of yet no deals have been completed for the aforementioned duo.

Whilst talks have been held for the pair, work has also been done elsewhere, with a move for Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman on the cards during the off-season.

The latest report from TBR Football claims that Frank’s side have been in contact with his representatives over a move to North London, with Arsenal also interested in his signature.

They also claim that he could be available for a fee in the region of £43m this summer after registering 20 goals and six assists for the Serie A outfit last campaign.

Why Spurs’ £43m target would be a better signing than Kudus & Eze

Alongside the previous targets mentioned, Eberechi Eze and Mohammed Kudus have both been frequently mentioned as potential additions from fellow Premier League sides Crystal Palace and West Ham United.

The Englishman has starred for Palace throughout 2024/25, registering eight goals and eight assists in the league, even netting the winner in the Eagles’ unlikely FA Cup triumph.

Such form has also led to keen interest from fellow North London outfit Arsenal, with competition appearing to be fierce for his signature throughout the off-season.

As for Kudus, he currently has a £85m release clause in his contract, with a deal for his signature likely to cost around £60m, potentially negotiating a deal with the Hammers after their original contact.

Both players would be excellent options for the Lilywhites in their quest for success, but may prove to be too expensive, especially considering the inflated fees given their English top-flight status.

Lookman could prove to be a much cheaper alternative, but also a better option within the final third, outperforming the Premier League duo in multiple key areas.

The Nigerian, who’s been labelled “world-class” by the BBC’s John Bennett, has registered more goals and assists throughout 2024/25, along with a higher shot on target accuracy rate – demonstrating his threat within the final third.

Games played

31

34

32

Goals & assists

20

16

8

Shot on target accuracy

40%

27%

28%

Progressive carries

5.7

2.4

3.4

Key passes made

2.4

2.1

1.1

Carries into final third

2.8

1.6

2.1

Carries into opposition box

3.2

0.7

1.4

Aerials won

57%

15%

21%

He’s also registered more key passes per 90, along with more carries into the opposition box, showcasing his direct nature, which has allowed him to be a constant threat to countless backlines.

Lookman’s all-round dominance is further highlighted in his tally of aerials won and crosses completed, having the talent in numerous key areas to make him a versatile option in Frank’s system.

It’s unclear which of the three players the club will pursue this window, but it’s evident that Lookman would be the best option for the Lilywhites during the current window.

All three would massively improve the options at the Dane’s disposal, but the Nigerian has the added quality that could take the side up a notch throughout 2025/26.

More exciting than Semenyo: Spurs in talks to sign "generational" £85m star

The brilliant attacker could be just what Spurs need.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 1, 2025

Aston Villa have a tricky next nine days to navigate in terms of PSR, with the deadline to balance their books looming on June 30, but that isn’t to say Unai Emery won’t be backed this summer.

NSWE and Monchi can only allow the Villans to register a £15 million loss for 2024/2025, with The Athletic calculating this as the maximum figure to avoid any PSR penalties.

£120k-a-week Aston Villa outfielder has now opened talks to join elite club

He could leave with Emiliano Martinez.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 21, 2025

As things stand, they’re projected to be over this limit and must raise cash through player sales before the start of the next football financial year on July 1.

The marquee sales of Moussa Diaby and Jhon Duran to Saudi Arabia have helped significantly, alongside their £70 million prize money from reaching the Champions League quarter-finals last season, but another big-name sale is required in the coming week (The Athletic).

Emiliano Martinez is attracting serious interest from Man United as an optional sale to bring much-needed funds to the Villa coffers, while it is reported that left-back Lucas Digne is in talks to join Atlético Madrid as he enters the final 12 months of his contract.

Much like Newcastle’s roadblock on marquee transfers due to PSR restrictions, Villa are suffering from having to comply with the limits, with top flight sides only allowed to lose £105 million over a rolling three-year period.

It makes the market all the more tricky for Emery’s side to navigate, and their failure to qualify for next season’s Champions League has come as an almighty blow both on and off the field.

Villa have to settle for the Europa League’s limited prize pool by comparison next term, with Monchi handed the extremely difficult task of both balancing the books and reinforcing Emery’s squad for another season of competing on multiple fronts.

Taking this into account, it makes links to £250,000-per-week Man United attacker Mason Mount all the more surprising.

Aston Villa could make "excellent" move for Man United ace Mason Mount

As per ex-Villa chief scout Mick Brown, in an interview with Football Insider, Emery is a fan of Chelsea’s former star and the Midlands could be a landing spot for him this summer.

Aston Villa could swoop for Mount and offer him an “excellent” move away from Old Trafford, according to Brown, and they want to help the 26-year-old re-discover his past form.

“United have tried to establish whether there is a market for Mason Mount,” Brown told Football Insider.

“Aston Villa have been spoken about and I think they could make a move. People remember Mason Mount at his best, that what Villa want to help him get back to and it looks like he’s back to full fitness now.

“His move to Man United hasn’t been positive by any means, but he’s still a talented player. Villa want to strengthen because they’ve lost Rashford and Asensio, so Mount is on their list.

“Unai Emery is a fan of his and feels he could help him to rediscover his Chelsea form. It would be an excellent move for Mount as well, because Villa are a top club, they’ve got top facilities and they’ll be playing in Europe.“

Given their financial limitations, Villa would surely need Mount to take a big cut on his marquee wages for this transfer to happen, and it would most likely be in the form of a loan deal, or perhaps a loan-to-buy.

Tottenham Hotspur are now ready to hijack a move for a £60m star, who Thomas Frank has called “incredible” in the past, according to a report.

Frank now leading contender to replace Ange at N17

Daniel Levy made the controversial call to sack Ange Postecoglou on Friday, with the Australian being dismissed despite leading Tottenham to their first major trophy in 17 years, and it would be fair to say the reaction has been mixed.

Former striker Teddy Sheringham was left particularly distraught by the decision, saying: “I’m absolutely devastated for Ange. He had a real rough ride last season with losing players through injury and the biggest thing is losing your two centre-halves and your goalkeeper for long periods.”

Not only that, but Sheringham doesn’t seem especially excited by the prospect of appointing Frank, who has now emerged as a leading target for Levy, with the former Spurs man adding: “Thomas Frank is okay. He’s alright. He’s doing well at Brentford.”

Tottenham pushing to sign £34m Inter Milan star with exit "increasingly close"

A Spurs player could even go the other way.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 6, 2025

Should the Brentford boss complete a move to N17, the new manager may be keen to make his own mark on the squad by bringing in some new players that he knows very well, and a new report has now revealed Tottenham want to hijack Manchester United’s Bryan Mbeumo deal.

Indeed, Levy is now plotting a stunning £70m raid on Brentford, with Mbeumo, who is valued at £60m, potentially in line to join alongside Frank, with a £10m compensation package required to appoint the Danish coach and his backroom staff.

Spurs are hoping that the offer of Champions League football could give them an advantage in the negotiations, but they may have to move swiftly, with the Red Devils now edging towards agreeing a £60m deal.

"Incredible" Mbeumo could be ideal signing for Tottenham

The Brentford star was prolific in front of goal throughout the 2024-25 campaign, reaching the 20-goal mark alongside fellow forward Yoane Wissa, and his manager was certainly very impressed by his performances.

Speaking after his side secured a victory against Brighton & Hove Albion in April, Frank described the Cameroon international as “incredible”, with the forward also displaying a keen eye for picking up assists, notching eight across the campaign.

Having already got one up on Man United by winning the Europa League final, it would add insult to injury if Tottenham were able to hijack a deal for the 25-year-old, but the prospect of playing Champions League football under a manager he knows very well would surely be appealing.

As such, Spurs should look to secure a deal for Frank as soon as possible, and a recent update from Fabrizio Romano suggests it may not be too long, with the transfer expert saying: “Tottenham are aware of Thomas Frank’s position: he wants the job and he’s keen on becoming new Spurs coach.”

Aiming to make an instant statement, the 49ers have reportedly entered the race to sign an England international who Russell Martin is a fan of in a deal that could be worth £25m for Rangers this summer.

Russell Martin: Rangers need "new energy"

Beating out the likes of Steven Gerrard and Davide Ancelotti, Martin quickly became Rangers’ top candidate before they decided to offer the former Southampton boss the job and end their managerial search. His first job since Premier League failure at St Mary’s, Martin will be desperate to see his time in Scotland go to plan and end in the ultimate success story.

Martin picks out "very interesting" 13-goal striker as key target for Rangers

He could be ideal for the Scottish Premiership giants.

ByHenry Jackson Jun 9, 2025

The new manager is well aware of the extent of the task at hand too, having told reporters after putting pen to paper to confirm his arrival: “The club needs new energy, it needs a fresh start. It’s been a tough time for the club and Rangers fans over the last however many years.”I think this will bring some fresh energy, it will bring some stability and it will hopefully bring a really exciting team on the pitch.

“That’s the end product and that’s what we all want, a team that wins and wins in a certain way and with a culture and environment that we all feel really aligned with and proud of.”

With new owners to match a new manager, Rangers have a huge summer ahead. The task at hand will be to bridge the gap on Scottish Premiership champions and Old Firm rivals Celtic, but whether that will happen in the space of a year is the big question.

To do that, the 49ers are reportedly aiming to back the Gers in the transfer window with some much-needed additions, which could yet include the likes of Conor Coady and one other Premier League ace that Martin knows well.

Rangers now battling to sign Ramsdale

According to Sports Boom, the 49ers have now entered the race to sign Aaron Ramsdale for Rangers this summer. Martin is reportedly a fan of the shot-stopper following their work together at Southampton and could now get the chance to reunite with the England international if those at Ibrox make their move.

The deal won’t come cheap, however. Ramsdale reportedly has a relegation release clause worth £25m this summer and has attracted interest from the likes of West Ham United as a result. Whether Martin’s admiration will make the difference for Rangers remains to be seen.

The former Southampton boss was never shy with his praise for the goalkeeper during his time at St Mary’s, telling reporters following a rare victory against Everton: “For me, he’s a complete goalkeeper that we’re really lucky to have and we have to enjoy it.

“He has such high standards and I’m pleased for him. He keeps a clean sheet and I think he has an appreciation of what we’re trying to be. He’s just desperate to help us and he has done.”

Following Jack Butland’s difficult campaign too, Ramsdale’s arrival would undoubtedly hand Rangers a major upgrade in the goalkeeping department ahead of a crucial season.

With Callum Wilson looking likely to leave, Newcastle United have reportedly made their first approach to sign an 18-goal forward and are even willing to pay a big fee to secure his signature this summer.

Callum Wilson could leave Newcastle for free

After spending five years at Newcastle, Wilson could be set to leave the club as a free agent when his current contract comes to an end next month. The experienced striker is yet to put pen to paper and left St James’ Park in tears following what is likely to be his final game for the club against Everton.

Despite his contract situation and his emotions at full-time last weekend though, Eddie Howe remained coy on Wilson’s future. The Newcastle boss told reporters: “Let’s wait and see. We will sit down with his representatives.

“I’m not sure about the thought it’s going to be huge change in the summer. There could be. I’m in a position where I don’t know what’s going to happen. You never know going into any summer with transfer activity, ins or outs you never know the numbers.”

With or without a new contract, however, it must be said that replacing Wilson would be no bad idea for the Magpies. The experienced striker has often struggled on the injury front, forcing Howe to play the likes of Anthony Gordon in the lead role of his frontline when also without Alexander Isak throughout the season.

Given that they’ve got Champions League football to offer now too, Newcastle and PIF could set their sights on some of Europe’s top talents. And whilst names such as Jonathan David have been mentioned, it could yet be another Ligue 1 talent who arrives.

Newcastle make first Kalimuendo approach

According to L’Equipe, as relayed by Sport Witness, Newcastle have now made their first approach to sign Arnaud Kalimuendo and are ready to pay a big substantial fee to secure the Stade Rennais forward.

"Spectacular" Real Madrid star now main Newcastle target in £150m+ spree

He would be a statement signing.

ByTom Cunningham May 27, 2025

The Frenchman has enjoyed an excellent season in France, scoring 18 goals in all competitions whilst also setting up another two throughout the campaign. At 23 years old, the forward still has his best years to come and represents the type of player who would be an ideal backup for Isak.

Praised for how “dangerous” he is around the box by U23 scout Antonio Mango back in March, Kalimuendo would be ready to take the Premier League by storm if Newcastle made their move.

The Magpies already suffered in the past when attempting to balance European football with Premier League action, but the arrival of the depth provided by players like Kalimuendo would go a long way towards avoiding that problem this time around.

Manchester City have now identified a “sensational” Premier League star as a priority target for the summer transfer window, as he would be a perfect fit for Pep Guardiola’s system, according to a report.

Man City need "full reset" this summer

The shock 1-0 FA Cup final defeat against Crystal Palace capped off a disappointing season for Man City, although Guardiola has defended the disappointing campaign by referencing the fact they won the Community Shield against Manchester United back in August.

That said, Gary Neville has long held the belief the City boss will need to overhaul his squad this summer, saying: “This will be painful for Man City but maybe Pep Guardiola needs it, maybe the club needs it. A full reset.

“Pep Guardiola is going to have to build a brand new title-winning team. He knows what one looks like, that’s for sure.”

The rebuild initially got underway during the January transfer window, with Kyle Walker leaving on an initial loan to Serie A giants AC Milan, which has led to Matheus Nunes, a midfielder by trade, filling in at right-back on a number of occasions.

Man City's "exceptional" star is finished at the Etihad if Reijnders signs

Man City could be set to move on a few players this summer

ByRoss Kilvington May 20, 2025

According to a report from Spain, however, Man City are now looking to bring in a long-term replacement for Walker, having now identified Newcastle United defender Tino Livramento as their priority target.

One bonus to signing Livramento is that he ‘would fit perfectly’ into Guardiola’s system, and City are willing to make a big bid to get a deal over the line, but his current employers are not willing to let the full-back leave without a fight.

Livramento could be "sensational" signing for Man City

The right-back is still only 22-years-old, but he has already built up a great deal of Premier League experience, establishing himself as a vital player for the Magpies this season, making 44 appearances in all competitions.

The England international, who set Newcastle back £40m in August 2023, has certainly justified his price tag since arriving at St. James’ Park, with club legend Alan Shearer lauding him after a “sensational” display against Manchester United last season.

In the same game, the former Southampton man was lauded for his speed by reporter Henry Winter, indicating he could be a like-for-like heir for Walker, who is also well-known for his recovery pace.

As such, there are clear signs that Livramento could be the perfect addition for Man City at right-back, but Guardiola’s side may have to qualify for the Champions League to stand a chance of prising the defender away from Newcastle this summer.