All posts by z3u9t.icu

With Brendan Rodgers’ future still up in the air, a fresh update has dropped regarding the situation and Celtic’s board, courtesy of an ex-CEO.

Rodgers delighted after dramatic Celtic win

The Hoops left it very late to win 2-1 away to Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday afternoon, with new signing Kelechi Iheanacho scoring the winning goal from the penalty spot in stoppage time.

Speaking after the game, Rodgers couldn’t hide his delight at the result, as Celtic’s winning mentality shone through, like it so often does.

“It’s a great feeling. It’s been a long two weeks, so to get back out on to the football field – and this is always a tough game here – I’m so pleased for the players.“We weren’t quite in the right fluidity in the first-half. We got into some good areas but we weren’t feeding the wide guys well enough. But I thought in the second half we were much better.

“We started the half really well, got in front, and we had control of the game and had other good chances. They made some really good blocks.

“At 1-0 it can always be in the balance, no matter how much dominance you have, and we got punished from a corner and then they had a wee bit of momentum then with not so long to go. But we stuck at it, we defended the box when he had to, we were really strong and had that Celtic spirit.”

New update on Rodgers' Celtic future

Away from a huge win, though, Rodgers’ future is still a key talking point, and speaking to Football Insider, former Aberdeen chief executive officer Keith Wyness claimed that Celtic’s board will cause huge anger among the fanbase if the manager leaves.

“Now, what I’m hearing from my Celtic contacts is that they’re feeling that the board has become a little bit ivory tower in its view these days. They’re older. They’re used to doing things a certain way, they’re not listening to what they need to do to change, they’re not prepared to change, and there isn’t a hunger and a desire anymore to go forward.

“They’re quite happy with the money in the bank. So that’s what frustrates fans more than anything else when they see their prices going up and they have to fund the season tickets, and they don’t see that being transferred into ambition. It isn’t as though the club’s bust, the very opposite, that’s what frustrates people.

“If Brendan goes, then I think the board will see some real anger, obviously depending on who they bring in. Brendan had managed to win back over a lot of the fans and there’s a lot of sympathy for Brendan in this situation.”

There is no doubt that life under Rodgers isn’t perfect right now, and that he isn’t blameless when it comes to some underwhelming performances, but he still feels like the right man for the job for many fans.

As Wyness alludes to, he wasn’t fully supported financially in the summer transfer window, causing plenty of frustration, so he can only work with the squad he has now.

Rodgers may have unearthed Celtic's next Tierney & it's not Saracchi

Celtic may have found their next Kieran Tierney and it is not Marcelo Saracchi.

ByDan Emery Sep 14, 2025

Sacking Rodgers would be a big risk by the board, and if that did happen, or if the Northern Irishman leaves, they will have to nail his successor to please the supporters.

Rory McIlroy has named an “under-appreciated” England legend as his favourite footballer growing up.

McIlroy became the sixth man to complete a Career Grand Slam earlier this year, with the Northern Irishman finally getting his hands on The Masters back in April, and he is now gearing up for the Ryder Cup, which is due to take place from September 26th – 28th in New York.

The 36-year-old has revealed he has knocked back the opportunity to captain Europe in the past, given the difficulties of combining that role with being a player, saying: “I’ve been asked to do that and I’ve turned it down. The idea of me being a playing captain sometime soon has come up and I’ve shot it down straight away.

That said, given that the current World No. 2 is the only European player in the top five of the rankings, he will still have a huge role to play later this month.

While McIlroy ended up going to be one of the greatest ever golfers, one of his first loves growing up was football, supporting Manchester United, and he has previously described an England legend as his favourite-ever player.

Speaking on The Overlap, McIlroy said: “I loved (Wayne) Rooney, he just worked so hard and he’d run everywhere, and you just felt exhausted after watching him for 90 minutes. To be that good, but also to have that work ethic and track back when someone loses the ball or if you lose it. To me, he just looked like he loved football and I loved watching him play.”

The Grand Slam winner also suggested the Manchester United legend is still underrated, saying: “It’s amazing to think that, all the great stuff that he’s done, you would say like under-appreciated in some way.”

Rooney was a "once in a generation" player

It is perhaps surprising that McIlroy didn’t opt for Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi as his favourite player, given that the Manchester United and Barcelona legends have a whopping 13 Ballon d’Ors between them.

Wayne Rooney named the best midfielder out of Gerrard, Scholes and Lampard

The England legend has had his say…

ByTom Cunningham Jun 11, 2025

However, Messi himself has previously made it clear just how highly he rates Rooney, saying: “Wayne Rooney is for me a once in a generation player. One of those special players, who is not comparable to any other. There are many special players, but Rooney has exceptional quality and technical ability as well as being one of the strongest players I have faced with an exceptional work rate – there is nobody like him.”

The United legend won 17 trophies during his time at Old Trafford, while also amassing 120 caps for the Three Lions, second only to Peter Shilton on the all-time list, showcasing that he is undoubtedly one of the best players England has ever produced.

Sheffield United are pushing for some late arrivals and could now be set to step up talks to bring a talented midfielder to Bramall Lane, according to a report.

Sheffield United turn to Danny Ings to provide firepower

After a dismal start to the EFL Championship campaign, Ruben Selles has turned to experienced forward Danny Ings to ignite his flailing attack after he left West Ham United under freedom of contract at the end of last season.

The 33-year-old has signed a one-year deal at Bramall Lane after impressing during a trial spell, and former Middlesbrough defender Tommy Smith believes he could be an ideal addition to offer an element of variety in the final third.

He stated on 72+: “It’s a decent move for Sheffield United. The one thing that they do need is a bit of experience in the group, I think Danny Ings will bring that.

“The key element for him is keeping himself fit which I believe he has done for the last couple of years, he’s just not had the game time that he probably craves and hopefully he gets that at Sheffield United.”

Manchester City defender Callum Doyle has been floated as a Blades target, albeit their lack of positive in recent times is unlikely to win any favour among a frustrated support.

Sheffield United could land the next Rak-Sakyi with move for "special" ace

Sheffield United could gift Ruben Selles his own Jesurun Rak-Sakyi with this summer move.

ByKelan Sarson Aug 6, 2025

Ultimately, recruitment can be the way out of a poor start by Selles in the dugout, though plenty of clubs will be fighting to sign players on the market between now and Monday’s deadline.

Nevertheless, Sheffield United fans can rejoice at some good news as they close in on a midfield signing that will add much-needed freshness in the engine room.

Sheffield United advancing in pursuit of Alex Matos

According to journalist Nizaar Kinsella, Sheffield United are advancing in negotiations to sign Chelsea midfielder Alex Matos before the deadline passes.

At this stage, it is unclear whether the 20-year-old will be allowed to leave Stamford Bridge on loan or whether his departure could be a permanent one after struggling to break through in West London.

Praised by Mauricio Pochettino for his “potential” while the Argentinian coach was in charge at Chelsea, Matos spent time out on loan at Oxford United last term and made 21 appearances across all competitions.

Versatile by nature, the former U’s man can feature in central midfield, wide on the right or as a number ten, while he has even enjoyed the occasional appearance as a centre-forward during his young career.

Sheffield United can look forward to his industrious presence in the engine room if they can close a deal for the Bedford-born man, who made 29 tackles on Championship duty last term, per Fotmob.

Time is of the essence for the Blades to recruit new faces and Matos could be an intelligent buy to offer a fresh perspective in the middle of the park.

West Ham United are searching for reinforcements this summer and have now made contact over a bargain move for a striker with a proven track record who is available on a free transfer, according to reports.

West Ham United seek to recruit a goalscorer

Graham Potter hasn’t enjoyed the most fruitful spell since taking charge of West Ham. However, the Irons are set to be active on the market to address their fundamental issues.

Above all, the lack of a prolific striker at the London Stadium has led to a dependence on Jarrod Bowen, and it is fair to say the Irons are now moving in on targets to fill the vacancy available through the middle.

Reports suggest Rangers striker Hamza Igamane is being targeted by West Ham following a breakthrough season in Scotland. However, Brentford, Everton, Lens, RC Strasbourg, Lille, and Stade Rennais are among alternative interested parties.

Further back, Burnley’s Josh Brownhill could add goals from midfield for the Hammers as his Turf Moor future becomes increasingly uncertain with his contract set to expire.

Potter’s men endured an uninspiring campaign last term and require some inspiration, which has prompted Carlton Cole to urge West Ham land Jack Grealish ahead of their Premier League counterparts.

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ByDominic Lund Jun 3, 2025

Circling the wagons, West Ham have now made contact to sign an alternative England international who is set to be a free agent this summer.

West Ham make contact to sign Dominic Calvert-Lewin

According to Football Transfers, West Ham have made contact to sign Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and they are prepared to better his current £100,000 per week salary in order to secure his services.

Michail Antonio is on course to depart the London Stadium after failing to agree terms on a short-term extension, and Potter believes the Toffees forward would be an ideal addition to strengthen his forward line without paying a transfer fee.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s record at Everton

Appearances

273

Goals

71

Assists

22

Dubbed a “proper number nine” by David Moyes, Calvert-Lewin is viewed as a low-risk high reward signing and has previously been offered to the Hammers, albeit they passed on the chance last summer due to his injury history.

Niclas Fullkrug didn’t set the heather alight last year and Evan Ferguson’s short loan spell didn’t have the desired impact, which may explain why West Ham have plumped for Premier League experience as they close in on a new striker.

With the first stage of the summer transfer window set to come to an end this evening, Manchester United will certainly be trying to complete deals to improve the first-team squad.

Ruben Amorim has already bolstered his ranks, landing Wolves star Matheus Cunha for a reported £62.5m fee, but has yet to add to such business during the off-season.

Such a deal will undoubtedly be the start of the overhaul of the first team squad, with the likes of Jonny Evans, Christian Eriksen and Victor Lindelof all released at the end of their contracts.

All areas of the pitch have been subject to improvements from the hierarchy as they look to back the manager to turn around the form, which saw them register a 15th-placed Premier League finish.

A whole host of names have been thrown into the mix over recent weeks, with one name once again popping up and edging closer to completing a switch to Old Trafford.

The latest on United’s hunt for new additions

In recent days, striker Viktor Gyokeres has once again been touted with a move to join United after previously playing under Amorim at Sporting CP in Portugal.

The hierarchy have been in contact with the Swede’s representatives over a move to Old Trafford this summer, looking to provide the added quality in the final third, as seen by his tally of 54 goals in 2024/25.

However, he could be joined in the final third by Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, with Sky Sports’ latest update seemingly moving the 25-year-old closer to a move to join the Red Devils.

They claim that Amorim’s side are set to return with a second offer for the Cameroonian international, after their previous bid of £45m plus £10m in add-ons was rejected.

Personal terms aren’t expected to be an issue with the £70m Bees attacker, after he stated his desire to move to join United over a switch to Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur.

Why United’s £70m target could be Amorim’s own Cherki

Rayan Cherki has been in demand throughout the off-season, understandably so given his form for Lyon across all competitions throughout 2024/25.

The 21-year-old registered 32 combined goals and assists for the Ligue 1 outfit, helping the club claim a place in the Europa League under manager Paulo Fonseca.

He even scored twice against the Red Devils in the Europa League quarter-finals this campaign, but it wasn’t enough as Amorim’s side staged one of the greatest European comebacks of all time.

However, they’re likely to come up against Cherki once again next season, after rivals Manchester City agreed a £34m deal to take the attacker to the Etihad in 2025/26.

Despite the pending move, Amorim could be about to land his own version of the Frenchman with a deal for Mbeumo, with the Brentford star also featuring off the right and also able to operate in a central area.

The winger, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by one analyst, has outperformed Cherki in various key areas, highlighting how much of an impressive addition he would be for United this summer.

He’s registered more goals than the soon-to-be City attacker, whilst posting a higher shot-on-target rate, subsequently posing a bigger threat in front of goal for United.

Games played

38

30

Goals & assists

27

19

Shot-on-target accuracy

43%

42%

Take-on success

50%

49%

Carries into opposition box

2

1.8

Crosses completed

5.4

5.2

Aerials won

0.9

0.1

Mbeumo has also completed more take-ons this season, whilst registering more carries with the ball into the opposition penalty area – further highlighting his desire to get the ball into dangerous areas, something which United have often lacked.

£70m may seem a hefty fee for the forward, but the prospect of him linking up with Cunha within the final third at Old Trafford is certainly an exciting one, making the club a force to be reckoned with.

Should he replicate the levels produced in the capital this season, he would be a superb addition, with his talents undoubtedly improving the options currently at the manager’s disposal.

Gyokeres alternative: Man Utd looking to sign £63m ace who's "like Ronaldo"

Man Utd are stepping up their search for a new striker this summer…

ByRobbie Walls Jun 10, 2025

Birmingham City is no longer a sleeping giant aiming to take a lower league by storm.

Now, the Blues are back in the ultra-competitive Championship, desperate to prove that they belong at the level, with an ambition in their veins to push on even more after lifting the League One title with ease.

Mega-rich Birmingham chairman Tom Wagner has even been hyping up the prospect of Chris Davies’ men being back in the Premier League by 2026 coming around, meaning the Blues will have to instantly take the EFL’s elite league by storm on their reentry.

It will be intriguing to see if all this pressure on Birmingham’s back hurts their progress, but the step up a league will also be an opportunity for the likes of Paik Seung-Ho to show they can strut their stuff in a more difficult environment, away from breaking the bank to fund their top-flight dreams.

Paik's performances in League One

Whilst Davies and Co. did bring in some proven EFL faces such as Alfie May and Jay Stansfield last summer, the Blues had sanctioned some left-field moves before their relegation took place, particularly when Paik arrived at St. Andrew’s from South Korean side Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in January of 2024.

Thankfully for Birmingham, it didn’t take long for Paik to get up to speed with his new surroundings, with the midfield maestro even netting a solitary goal in the Championship before they fell to the third tier.

The energetic 28-year-old ended up being a key part of the Birmingham side down a division too, with the Blues number 13 collecting another strike in league action as his confident team were resoundingly crowned champions, on top of also registering three assists.

Yet, now as they venture back up to the Championship, the ambitious Blues could soon land an upgrade on the stylish South Korean by signing this former Manchester United youth product.

Birmingham's search for a midfielder

Birmingham have had lots of success in the past when purchasing former Red Devils prodigies, with the likes of Tahith Chong and Jesse Lingard shining at St. Andrew’s briefly, before spreading their wings elsewhere.

Indeed, Chong registered 13 goals and assists in 61 games for the Midlands side, with Lingard previously racking up nine goal involvements in just 13 outings on loan at the club.

Charlie Savage’s name could soon be thrown into this mix, with a previous report from Football Insider revealing that Birmingham are prepared to battle it out for the £2m-rated star’s services, amidst interest also coming from Wrexham, Blackburn Rovers, and Portsmouth.

Much like Paik, Savage is fresh off a standout season in League One, albeit in a Reading side with many off-field struggles that nearly derailed matters on the pitch.

When looking at the table below, too, it could be argued that the Royals’ number eight is even an upgrade on his South Korean counterpart, with Savage tallying up more goals and assists last season for Noel Hunt’s men when weighed up next to Paik’s lesser output.

Games played

45

41

Goals scored

5

1

Assists

9

3

Touches*

47.8

66.2

Accurate passes*

27.0 (80%)

45.2 (88%)

Key passes*

1.3

1.0

Big chances created

5

8

Big chances missed

3

3

Ball recoveries*

3.7

4.0

Total duels won*

2.3

4.4

Amazingly, despite averaging fewer touches per match last season in League One, Savage would better Paik’s goal-and-assist tally by a whopping ten, with the 22-year-old’s effectiveness in forward areas perhaps a useful weapon for the Blues to call upon as they strive to ruffle feathers back in the Championship.

He does fall flat when weighing up their respective ball recovery and duels won numbers, but that’s where Tomoki Iwata could come to the rescue in any potential duo, with Iwata just about trumping Paik with 4.5 ball recoveries averaged per third-tier clash.

Hailed as “first class” by former Wales manager Rob Page when first thrown into the Red Dragons senior side, Savage should, in theory, be able to immediately slot into Davies’ team and take to the pressures of the Championship well, resulting in Paik having to make do with a spot in the background.

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Manchester United are closing in on their first signing of the upcoming summer transfer window, as Matheus Cunha is set to join on a permanent deal.

According to Fabrizio Romano, the Brazil international is poised to arrive at Old Trafford for a fee of £62.5m to bolster Ruben Amorim’s options at the top end of the pitch.

Cunha is set to arrive as a proven Premier League star after his impressive performances for the Old Gold in the 2024/25 campaign, with a return of 15 goals and 13 ‘big chances’ created in the top-flight to steer them clear of relegation trouble.

The former Atletico Madrid star has shown that he can score goals at an impressive rate, whilst also creating high-quality chances for his teammates, and could hit the ground running in Manchester next term.

He also played as one of two number tens behind a central striker for Wolves, which means that he will be a perfect fit for Amorim’s attacking set-up.

United are also in the market for a new centre-forward to play ahead of Cunha, but it does not look like there is going to be a reunion between Amorim and Viktor Gyokeres.

The latest on Viktor Gyokeres to Man Utd

According to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg, a deal for the Sweden international is ‘almost off the table’ for Manchester United in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The journalist claims that the former Coventry City star is not eyeing up a move to Old Trafford, but it is unclear if that has anything to do with the fact that the Red Devils will not be playing European football next season.

Amorim signed Gyokeres for Sporting in the summer of 2023, from the Sky Blues, and the impressive marksman scored 66 goals in 68 appearances in all competitions under the Portuguese head coach.

The news that the 26-year-old superstar is looking unlikely to return to England to sign for United this summer may come as a blow to supporters who may have been excited by the prospect.

Appearances

33

33

xG

22.71

30.95

Goals

29

39

Minutes per goal

101

72

Conversion rate

25%

29%

Big chances created

11

11

Assists

10

7

As you can see in the table above, Gyokeres has been incredibly prolific during his time in Portugal, mostly under Amorim, with 68 goals in 66 league matches for Sporting.

However, the Manchester United head coach could find his next version of the striker if the latest update on their pursuit of a Premier League forward pans out.

Man Utd expected to sign English striker

According to The Telegraph, Manchester United are ‘widely expected’ to win the race to sign Ipswich Town centre-forward Liam Delap in the summer transfer window, and he could arrive as their second signing after Cunha.

The report claims that the Red Devils are likely to sign the England U21 international from the Tractor Boys after they were relegated from the Premier League, one year on from his move to Suffolk from Manchester City.

Transfer Focus

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

It reveals that Nottingham Forest are also interested in signing the former Hull City loanee ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, but it is expected that the young marksman will opt for a move to Old Trafford instead.

Fabrizio Romano revealed earlier this month that the striker has a release clause in his Ipswich Town contract that will allow clubs to sign him for just £30m this summer, which could make him a bargain addition for United.

If Delap, as expected, ends up joining Manchester United before the end of the summer transfer window, Amorim could mould him into his new version of Gyokeres.

Why Liam Delap could be the next Viktor Gyokeres

The obvious goalscoring quality aside, one of the Swedish star’s best attributes is his physicality in the number nine position, with his running power and his raw strength to hold off opposition players.

Manager Slaven Bilic once hailed his physical qualities, saying: “He (Gyokeres) is a very strong striker, a player who can not only keep and hold the ball but he can hurt you. He can run into the channels and he’s strong.”

Delap, dubbed a “monster” by teammate Alex Palmer, is cut from the same cloth as Gyokeres as a physical, hard-working, centre-forward who does not give opposition defenders an easy afternoon.

Pundit Paul Robinson praised his physicality earlier this season, saying: “He (Delap) is a pest. He is a nuisance. He is always there on the shoulders of the centre-backs. He is making runs in the channels. He is always available. When it looks like he isn’t going to win the ball, he puts his body in between the player and the ball, somehow managing to win a free-kick or something for his team.”

The clip above illustrates the kind of raw power and pace Delap can provide in the number nine role for Manchester United, but the next step for him is to prove that he can score enough goals to fire a team to a title.

He has shown promise in that respect after an excellent year with the Tractor Boys, in spite of their relegation back down to the Championship.

Appearances

37

32

xG

9.34

5.24

Goals

12

4

Conversion rate

18%

13%

Big chances created

3

4

Assists

2

0

As you can see in the table above, the England U21 international would already come in as a big upgrade on Hojlund as a goalscorer at Premier League level, after an impressive haul of 12 goals in his debut season in the top-flight.

Manchester United are set to sign an incredibly gifted creative talent in Cunha, who could provide Delap with the chances he needs to improve his output from 12 to closer to the likes of Alexander Isak and Erling Haaland, if he can remain consistent as an effective finisher.

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INEOS must terribly regret letting this player leave Old Trafford.

ByAngus Sinclair May 25, 2025

That could, then, complete his transformation into becoming an elite Premier League centre-forward and Amorim’s next Gyokeres, as a clinical and physical centre-forward with plenty of time ahead of him to develop even further.

Continuing their search for a new manager, the 49ers and Rangers have now reportedly added another name to their shortlist alongside Steven Gerrard and Davide Ancelotti.

Rangers' manager shortlist shrinking

The Gers have been considering their options ever since deciding to part ways with Philippe Clement and even handed Barry Ferguson the interim role to buy themselves some time for the rest of the season. With the season now over, however, those at Ibrox have a decision to make between a number of reported candidates.

One name that can at least be ruled out is Ferguson. Although the interim boss showed some promise in European action, his Ibrox record was always unlikely to be enough for the permanent job.

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Nonetheless, he admitted the honour of taking charge if only for a short spell, saying in a recent statement: “I’ve already lived the dream as a player and as captain of Rangers, and to do so as head coach in these last three months has been an enormous honour.

“There have been some ups and downs, but I have loved this experience and given it my all throughout. The backing I have received has been phenomenal. I said, no matter how this period panned out, I would always remain a committed supporter of the club, and I look forward to remaining a Rangers ambassador. I wish whomever becomes the new manager every success in the job.”

Narrowing Rangers’ shortlist down to just a few names, the Gers must get their next decision right. According to reports, it’s Steven Gerrard who is the favourite to become the next Rangers manager and arrive for his second stint in charge.

The former Aston Villa manager recently left Saudi Arabia after a difficult spell in charge of Al Ettifaq, but could be given an instant opportunity to get back to familiarities at Ibrox. Meanwhile, Davide Ancelotti – son of Carlo Ancelotti – has also been heavily linked with what would be his first managerial job away from his father.

There’s every chance that it could be neither of those options, however, with another name now reportedly added to the shortlist.

Rangers add Gattuso to list of candidates

According to Graeme Bailey for The Boot Room, Rangers have now also identified Gennaro Gattuso as a managerial option alongside Gerrard and Ancelotti. The Italian is well known around Ibrox thanks to his spell at the club from 1997 to 1998 and could now make his return away from the pitch and in the dugout at the home of the Scottish giants.

Whilst Gattuso’s playing career was undeniably iconic – Gerrard himself admitted the Italian’s style “really angered” him in their 2005 Champions League final meeting – his managerial career hasn’t quite hit the same heights.

Often implementing a 4-2-3-1 system, the longest that the Italian has lasted at a club is two years, with spells at Napoli, Valencia and AC Milan all ending fairly unsuccessfully. Now at Hajduk Split until at least 2026, Rangers would also face the problem of getting Gattuso out of his current role.

On their list nonetheless, Gattuso could be an interesting name to watch if neither Gerrard nor Ancelotti take the Rangers job in the coming months.

Chelsea have held talks with the representatives of a highly-rated forward, and he’s set to decide whether he’ll join them or another suitor pretty soon.

Chelsea scour market for new attackers ahead of Club World Cup

A special edition transfer window, open from June 1 to June 10, hands Blues boss Enzo Maresca an opportunity to recommend squad upgrades to the Stamford Bridge hierarchy before their Club World Cup campaign kicks off.

Once-£137m forward holds talks over signing for Chelsea from elite club

His representatives have been in touch with the west Londoners.

1 ByEmilio Galantini May 13, 2025

While the full focus remains on Chelsea’s mission to qualify for the Champions League next season, amidst a hotly-contested top five race, the CWC is also seen as fairly crucial when factoring in the potential prize money on offer.

2. Arsenal

68

3. Newcastle United

66

4. Man City

65

5. Chelsea

63

6. Aston Villa

63

7. Nottingham Forest

62

Winners of this year’s tournament could take home up to £97 million, according to official figures, and BlueCo will be fully aware of this as they seek to reinvest a chunk of this possible windfall into the squad whilst erring on the cautionary side of PSR.

They’ll want to give themselves the best chance of performing well at the CWC, leading to some reports that Chelsea wish to seal deals for key targets like Dean Huijsen “as soon as possible”.

As well as the Spaniard, Chelsea are said to have their eyes on his international teammate – Athletic Bilbao starlet Nico Williams.

The £170,000-per-week forward’s £49 million release clause has garnered attention from Europe’s elite, following an exceptional last two seasons at Bilbao, and Chelsea are believed to be among the contenders for Williams’ signature as they pursue new wide options.

Nico Williams set for Chelsea transfer decision after talks

According to The Boot Room and journalist Graeme Bailey, Chelsea are joined by Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City and Newcastle United as part of the five teams to have held talks with the 22-year-old’s camp recently.

The competition for his signature is ferocious, and Williams remains unsure over his next destination, despite those close to him insisting that a switch to England is on the cards.

Bailey reports that Williams is set to make a decision over potentially joining Chelsea, or any other interested club, once Bilbao’s final position in the table is confirmed – which will be pretty soon considering there are just three La Liga games remaining of the 24/25 season.

Bilbao are involved in a tight race for Champions League qualification themselves, and Williams is fully focused on that before deciding his next destination. It is worth noting that, if Bilbao do find themselves in the draw next year, there is a “real chance” he could even remain in Spain.

That would be horrible news for Chelsea, especially considering what he’d give Maresca in terms of sheer quality.

“Williams, for me, is exceptional,” said Wayne Rooney about Williams.

“He reminds me of Cristiano Ronaldo when Cristiano was young. He’s a big lad, he’ll take the ball and sometimes tries too much but usually makes the right decisions.”

Aston Villa chiefs are ready to back Unai Emery in the summer transfer window, should the manager make it clear he wants to sign an “incredible” player, according to a report.

Villa's summer transfer plans taking shape

We are now at the business end of the season, and things aren’t going exactly to plan for Villa, having been knocked out of the FA Cup by Crystal Palace at the weekend, while the defeat against Manchester City has weakened their top-five aspirations.

As such, if Emery’s side are to take the next step and compete for major honours next season, the manager may feel he has to strengthen in the summer window, and targets have been identified in a number of key areas.

Despite having Emiliano Martinez on the books, the Villans are now ready to pay the £21m release clause for Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia, while they have also held talks over a move for Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Matheus Cunha.

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Last week, it was also revealed that internal discussions had been held over Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne, who is set to be available on a free transfer this summer, and there has now been a new update on Aston Villa’s pursuit.

According to a report from Football Insider, Villa are chiefs are now ready to back Emery, should the manager make it clear he wants to sign De Bruyne this summer, with the Belgian keen to continue playing at the highest level.

The attacking midfielder is on a monster £400k-a-week salary, but the board are ambitious, and they are willing to battle it out with clubs from Saudi Arabia and the MLS if Emery gives the green light.

Interested clubs are set to table lucrative contract offers, so while the 33-year-old is available on a free transfer, the Villans will have to be willing to spend big on wages to win the race.

De Bruyne could be "best player of his generation"

The Belgium international has started to play more of a sporadic role, recently being benched for his side’s 2-0 triumph against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup semi-final, but he is undoubtedly among the best players in Premier League history.

The “incredible” midfielder has played a major role in Man City’s golden era, picking up 107 goals and 177 assists in 417 appearances for the club, which perhaps makes it a little surprising they are willing to let him leave on a free transfer this summer.

That said, De Bruyne is set to turn 34 in June, and the fact he is receiving reduced game time suggests his best days could be behind him, so it would be a risk for Villa to snap him up on a big contract.