All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Tottenham Hotspur have reached out to the representatives of a “very versatile” manager to potentially replace the under-pressure Ange Postecoglou, with Spurs doing their due-diligence on future options if they decide to sack their current head coach.

Tottenham face AZ Alkmaar in Europa League second leg

On the field, Postecoglou’s side are gearing up for their highly-anticipated Europa League Last 16 second leg clash against AZ Alkmaar.

Tottenham set for £38m forward talks as Levy eyes second attacker after Tel

Spurs want multiple new final third options to come in this summer.

ByEmilio Galantini Mar 12, 2025

Spurs go into the game bearing the task of overcoming a one-goal deficit from their first leg in the Netherlands, trailing 1-0 to AZ after Lucas Bergvall’s own goal handed the Eredivisie side a crucial advantage ahead of their trip to north London.

Fulham (away)

March 16th

Chelsea (away)

April 2nd

Southampton (home)

April 5th

Wolves (away)

April 12th

Nottingham Forest (home)

April 21st

The Europa League comes as Tottenham’s only chance to win any major silverware this season and end their 17-year wait for a trophy, but they’ll have to get the better of AZ without star winger Dejan Kulusevski, Radu Dragusin, Richarlison and January signing Kevin Danso, who picked up a hamstring injury against Bournemouth over the weekend.

“Yeah, Kevin got a hamstring injury in the last game so he is out. Ben [Davies] is back in, so that’s the only change from the weekend. Everyone else got through the game no problems,” said Postecoglou on Tottenham team news ahead of AZ.

However, the 59-year-old benefits from having all four of his “leaders” fit and available to play together, which has been rare this season, with Son Heung-min, James Maddison, Cristian Romero and Guglielmo Vicario set to play a key role this evening.

“I think Vic was enormous for us in the first leg and he was big for us on the weekend as well,” said Postecoglou.

“You want your big, experienced players to perform in these games, for sure. We have relied a lot on our younger players who have really progressed really well, but I guess a night like tomorrow night, having the likes of Romero, Maddison, Vicario and Sonny out there, they are our four leaders and I don’t think we’ve had them on the park at all this year or very little anyway. Having all four of them, the whole leadership group out there, will definitely be beneficial.”

A good run in Europe could even be crucial for Postecoglou to keep his job, with reports suggesting that Tottenham are identifying managerial targets like Inter Milan’s Simone Inzaghi.

Tottenham make contact with Andoni Iraola's representatives

Another tactician who’s been linked with the potentially vacant post at the end of this season is Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola.

The Spaniard has impressed onlookers after guiding his team to within touching distance of a Champions League qualification place, and he’s done well to cope with injuries to key players in his Bournemouth squad of late.

The Cherries want to tie him down with a new contract and fend off elite clubs who may be interested, according to GiveMeSport, and Spurs are very much interested in the prospect of appointing Rayo Vallecano’s ex-head coach.

According to the outlet, Tottenham have even made contact with Iraola via his agents, expressing their serious interest in the 42-year-old as an alternative to Postecoglou.

Bournemouth, though, will fight tooth and nail to keep hold of their highly-respected manager, as the south coast side plan talks to tie him down with fresh terms at the Vitality Stadium.

Called a “very versatile” manager who “earns the respect of the dressing room” by football analysts (X), his reputation for adapting to different scenarios and taking initiative could be very tempting for Spurs, as Postecoglou has often been criticised for not having those attributes and sticking to the same formula.

Manchester United are now closely monitoring an “unbelievable” top flight forward who could cost as little as £42 million, according to a new report.

Man Utd eye new forwards as Zirkzee and Hojlund struggles continue

The Red Devils are expected to enter the transfer market for several key positions this summer, but none more important than a new striker. Sky Sports’ Florian Plettenberg reported last week that United have a number of centre-forward targets across Europe they are looking at, as Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee struggle in front of goal.

Amorim can finally axe Casemiro for Man Utd's 19-year-old academy "beast"

Man Utd could have a gem on their hands

ByJoe Nuttall Mar 24, 2025

One player who has emerged on their list ahead of the summer is AFC Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, with Africa Foot reporting that the Premier League giants have made signing the versatile winger one of their priorities. United have allegedly already held talks with the Cherries over a potential deal at the end of the campaign.

It appears as though those talks have gone well, as the report adds that United are ready to make a bid worth £33.5 million to sign Semenyo. The 25-year-old has had a very productive season for Bournemouth, scoring seven goals and registering four assists in 28 league games, and his ability to play out wide will also be an added bonus to Ruben Amorim.

Amorim also working on move for Semenyo's Bournemouth teammate

But Semenyo is not the only Bournemouth attacker on United’s radar, as according to Caught Offside, Man United have added Justin Kluivert to their transfer wishlist as an alternative option for the centre-forward position or wide role.

The report states that the Red Devils have been keeping a close eye on the Bournemouth attacker for a while now, as the Dutchman has been very impressive this season. United are not alone in their pursuit of Kluivert, as Newcastle, Liverpool and Tottenham are also interested in a potential deal, but it is claimed that Amorim has ‘already started working’ on his forward moves.

The Cherries are believed to be looking to get around €50-55 million (£42-46 million) for Kluivert, who was lauded as “unbelievable” by members of the press last month.

Kluivert, for his part, is said to be open to leaving Bournemouth if he receives an offer from a big Premier League team, and his suitors think his price tag is ‘reasonable’.

Apps

28

Starts

24

Goals

12

xG

9.62

Shots per game

2.0

Conversion rate

21%

Assists

6

xAG

3.19

Big chances created

6

Kluivert’s potential arrival at Old Trafford could see him be the replacement for Marcus Rashford, who is out on loan at Aston Villa currently and looks likely to leave United as they weigh up the idea of cashing in on him, which will help them bring in new players during the summer.

The 25-year-old has scored 12 goals in the Premier League this season, and his ability to play out wide or as a number 10 is ideal for Amorim, as he looks to add more versatility to his squad.

Former England manager Sam Allardyce has given his honest thoughts on becoming Rangers’ next permanent boss this summer.

Rangers still deciding on next permanent manager

Barry Ferguson is doing well in temporary charge of the Gers currently, but that’s not to say that he is guaranteed to take permanent charge at the end of the season.

Rangers could be tempted to bring in a far more proven option, with ex-Liverpool and Real Madrid manager Rafa Benitez backed to come in by Derek Ferguson: “You look at his CV and it shows you he’s won plenty. Barry brings passion and everything Rangers supporters want, but at the end of the day, when you look at a CV, Benitez’s is second to none. You can’t ignore that.”

As for Allardyce, he is a manager with a vast amount of experience, amassing 838 games in total, and while his time as England manager famously didn’t work out for off-field reasons, the fact that he got the job in the first place speaks volumes about his pedigree.

Speaking on talkSPORT earlier this year [via Glasgow World], Allardyce discussed a possible return to management: “Only if someone called and said ‘Sam, would you be interested in helping us and developing us in the right direction.’ I would see where it went from there. In terms of actively, I don’t ring up and ask for every job that comes available. If someone is willing to take on an old experienced guy like me now, then you never know.”

The 70-year-old hasn’t been in management since a brief spell at Leeds United in 2023, however, and given his age, some may feel that his time has passed at the top level.

Allardyce discusses being next Rangers manager

As relayed by Glasgow World, ‘Big Sam’ spoke again about his next steps this week, and was asked specifically about the Ibrox job.

Prompted by Billy Davies on Allardyce’s No Tippy Tappy Football podcast about the prospect of forming a partnership in Glasgow, the former England boss didn’t completely shut the door.

In truth, it is hard to see Allardyce being the man who comes in at Rangers once the current campaign reaches its conclusion, with the club surely looking at younger options who haven’t been out of the game for a couple of years.

That’s not to discredit his career in management, however, with the Englishman working wonders at Bolton Wanderers, guiding them into the Premier League in the 2000s and going on to be one of the most respected managers in the country over the next decade or two.

Allardyce has proven to be a master at coming in and getting teams out of trouble, but Rangers need to be looking at a long-term option who can take the club back to the top of the Scottish game, rather than a quick fix.

He's open to move: Rangers receive boost as 49ers eye "quick" £5m striker

They could make their move…

ByTom Cunningham Apr 3, 2025

If Allardyce and Davies did join the Gers, it could certainly be an entertaining ride, but it would be a big surprise to see the club turn to him.

Everton are believed to be interested in signing a player who is a “massive favourite” of David Moyes in the summer transfer window, a new update has claimed.

Moyes plans summer signings at Everton

The Blues’ Premier League season is starting to peter out a little in terms of important matches, with survival all but secured for another season. Saturday’s 1-1 draw at home to Arsenal was another good result under Moyes, though, with the Scot continuing to do an excellent job during his second stint at Goodison Park.

There will now be lots of focus on possible new signings for Everton this summer, with contact reportedly made with the representatives of SC Freiburg midfielder Merlin Rohl over a move to Merseyside. The 22-year-old has been affected by injuries in 2024/25, but he is a versatile player who could be a long-term signing.

Feyenoord defender David Hancko has also been mentioned as an option for the Blues once the current season reaches its conclusion, following another impressive campaign for the Eredivisie giants.

Lorenzo Lucca has been linked with a move to Everton as well, with the Udinese striker a towering 6 foot 7 inches tall, which is the same height as Peter Crouch. The Italian has scored 10 goals in 25 starts in Serie A this season, also picking up nine yellow cards, highlighting a tenacious side to his game.

Everton fighting West Ham for "very clever" Sunderland star Neil

According to a fresh report from Football Insider, Everton are in the race to sign Sunderland midfielder Dan Neil at the end of the season.

West Ham are thought to be providing competition for the signature of the Black Cats skipper, but the 23-year-old is a “massive favourite” of Moyes.

Sunderland are “bracing themselves for ample bids” from Premier League clubs, assuming the Championship side fail to earn promotion.

Neil may not be a top-flight player currently, which could naturally put some Everton fans off, but he could be a shrewd addition to Moyes’ squad. At 23, the Englishman has already become one of Sunderland’s most important players, captaining them at a young age, and Black Cats manager Regis Le Bris lauded him back in January.

“I think he did well during the first part of the season, but it wasn’t so obvious for the observers maybe, because he was really important in adjusting all the behaviour of his teammates. He’s very clever, very important to adjust the formation and balance the team.”

This season, Neil has started 39 of Sunderland’s 40 Championship matches, outlining his availability, and his quality and energy in midfield could be a real asset for Everton.

Everton struck gold on “constant threat” who’s worth more than Longstaff

Everton made a good investment with the signing

ByJoe Nuttall Apr 7, 2025

He could be seen as a long-term replacement for Idrissa Gueye, who is now 35 years of age and whose contract expires at the end of this season.

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ stunning 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the Premier League was the first time they have done the double over the Red Devils since the 1970s.

It was a win that proves how good this Wolves squad is, and next season they should be aiming for a top-half finish without a shadow of a doubt.

Vitor Pereira has worked miracles at Molineux since taking over towards the end of 2024, and if he is backed in the summer transfer window, he can take the club to the next level.

One burning question is, will Matheus Cunha be in the starting XI for the first Premier League fixture of the 2025/26 season?

Matheus Cunha’s future at Wolves is uncertain

The Brazilian may have enjoyed a wonderful season on the pitch, scoring 16 goals and grabbing four assists, but his behaviour in recent months suggests he could be sold this summer.

Cunha has clashed with supporters on social media following a post he put up on his Instagram. He even confessed that he wishes to leave in order to challenge for trophies, and if a big offer comes in, the forward may depart.

The former Atlético Madrid star only signed a new contract back in February, tying him down for another four years. A £62.5m release clause has been inserted into the deal, so whoever wants to sign him this summer will need to stump up the cash.

While losing him would be a big blow, the club sold a player in the summer of 2022 who is now worth £40m more than the Brazilian and is also starring in the Premier League.

Goals

14

Assists

4

Big chances created

12

Key passes per game

1.7

Shots per game

3.2

Goal conversion percentage

16%

Wolves must regret selling £100m-rated star

While Cunha has been stealing the limelight in Wolverhampton, a player not so far away in Nottingham has also very swiftly become one of the leading Premier League players; Morgan Gibbs-White.

Selling the playmaker for a fee in the region of £42.5m was seen as excellent business by the Old Gold initially. Indeed, he’d registered a total of just three goals and one assist in 88 matches for the club was hardly an impressive return, but the move has backfired spectacularly.

Since moving to Nottingham Forest, the Englishman has racked up 111 appearances for the club, registering 43 goal contributions – 16 goals and 27 assists – in the process.

It is no wonder he has been dubbed “sensational” by certain sections of the media for his displays and according to journalist Graeme Bailey, the attacking midfielder is now being valued at around £100m by Forest amid interest from Manchester City.

This is nearly £40m more than Cunha, and the statistics back up his high valuation. In the top flight this term, he has created eight big chances, averaged 1.6 key passes and succeeded with one dribble per game.

Furthermore, he ranks in the top 11% for goal-creating actions (0.63) and in the top 5% for passes into the final third (4.33) per 90 when compared to his positional peers this season in the top flight.

Wolves perhaps made the correct decision at the time by selling the 25-year-old, but boy, must they be rueing that decision now.

The next Ait-Nouri: Pereira plotting summer Wolves move for "revelation"

Wolves are showing interest in a Ligue 1 defender…

1 ByRoss Kilvington Apr 19, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur were hammered 5-1 by Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday in a match that confirmed their opponents as the champions of the Premier League.

It was a one-sided contest for much of the evening, despite Dominic Solanke’s opening goal in the first half, as the Reds ran riot on Merseyside against a helpless Spurs defence.

Ange Postecoglou will surely be disappointed with the performances from his players on the pitch, as several stars underperformed, including Destiny Udogie.

Destiny Udogie's struggles against Liverpool

The Italy international was tasked with keeping Mohamed Salah quiet at left-back and, actually, did a decent job of it in the opening 45 minutes.

Player ratings courtesy of Sofascore

Although Salah played a part in the first goal with a pass in behind the Spurs defence, the Egypt international ended the first half with zero goals or assists.

Unfortunately, however, the Liverpool number 11 stepped his game up in the second half to create one ‘big chance’ and score a goal, as he cut inside of Udogie from the right flank before rifling an effort into the bottom corner.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Salah also put the Spurs left-back under pressure and forced the defender to convert into his own net for the fifth goal, in what was a dreadful second-half for the Italian dud.

Udogie, however, was not the worst-performing full-back of the afternoon for Tottenham, as Djed Spence was even worse than the former Udinese star.

Why Postecoglou must drop Spence

The English right-back did not enjoy his best day in a Spurs shirt, with a dismal showing, and it started with his involvement, or lack thereof, in the first Liverpool goal.

Spence hesitated and tried to push up to play offside, but it was not an organised line, instead of following his man – Luis Diaz – into the box, and it was his match-up who scored the goal.

He found himself unaware of his man making a run off his back twice in the second half, once to allow Cody Gakpo in behind, but his cross evaded everyone, and the second time to allow Diogo Jota to fire in the cross that forced Udogie’s own goal.

Alongside those disappointing moments defensively, Spence’s use of the ball was also wasteful in comparison to Udogie’s throughout the 90 minutes.

Minutes

90

90

Pass accuracy

81%

56%

Dribbles completed

1/2

0/3

Possession lost

7x

21x

Tackles

3

1

Interceptions

2

0

Duels won

6/8

1/8

As you can see in the table above, the Italian defender had the better performance out of the two defenders, with his play in and out of possession, even if you include his own goal, which Spence was partially responsible for.

The former Nottingham Forest full-back was weak in his physical battles, made poor decisions defensively, and gave the ball away far too often, losing possession a whopping 14 more times than Udogie. This provided Liverpool with even more opportunities to attack because he could not keep hold of the ball well enough.

Therefore, Postecoglou must consider ruthlessly dropping Spence to the bench in favour of Pedro Porro, who provided an assist against Forest last time out, for the Europa League clash with Bodo/Glimt on Thursday.

Fewer touches than Vicario: Ange must axe Spurs dud who was worse than Gray

Ange Postecoglou must drop the Tottenham Hotspur flop who was even worse than Archie Gray.

ByDan Emery Apr 27, 2025

For the second Premier League season in a row, Arsenal look set to have the best defence in the competition.

However, as they did last year and the year before that, Mikel Arteta’s side have failed to get over the line, with Liverpool being the ones to deny them this time.

The Reds have conceded four goals more than the Gunners but, as things stand, have scored a whopping 17 goals more than them.

1

Liverpool

81

35

82

2

Arsenal

64

31

67

3

Man City

67

43

64

4

Newcastle

66

45

63

5

Chelsea

62

41

63

It’s no secret, then, that the North Londoners desperately need some attacking reinforcements this summer, and it’s not hard to see who they are taking inspiration from, as reports have linked them to a player compared to Mohamed Salah.

Arsenal transfer news

With the gap in attacking output as vast as it is, Arsenal are understandably on the lookout for some serious game-changers, like Florian Wirtz and Viktor Gyokeres.

Transfer Focus

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

The former would reportedly cost the club a whopping £111m, but given his tally of 29 goal involvements this season and the fact he’s only 22 years old, it’d be hard to claim he’s not worth it.

Likewise, while the £70m price tag for Gyokeres is undeniably steep, it’s also undeniably fair enough, as in just 49 appearances this season, he’s scored a staggering 52 goals and provided 12 assists.

However, if the Gunners are after a Salah-esque player, he’s got to be a winger, which would explain the interest in Bryan Mbeumo.

According to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Arsenal are determined to bring in another winger this summer, and one of Andrea Berta’s most significant targets is the Brentford man.

The Cameroon international has been on the club’s shortlist for months now, and while the Bees are after around £51m, there is hope in North London that they’ll be open to negotiating.

It might end up being a rather costly transfer to get done, but given Mbeumo’s superb output, it would most certainly be worth it, especially as he’s won comparisons to Salah.

Why Mbeumo is like Salah

So, when it comes to winning comparisons to first-class players, there aren’t much more flattering than Salah, so where does Mbeumo’s come from?

Well, in this instance, it was TalkSPORT’s Jason Cundy, who was full of praise for the Brentford star and called him “a mini-Salah” following his brilliant performance and goal in the Bees’ 4-2 win against Newcastle United in December.

Now, it’s important to note the “mini” part of that compliment, as, at the end of the day, nobody is suggesting that the former Troyes star is on the same level as the league-winning Egyptian, but there is no reason he couldn’t fulfil a similar enough role in N5.

After all, despite playing for a team who are generally mid-table at best these days, the often “unplayable” winger, as dubbed by manager Thomas Frank, is nothing short of prolific.

For example, in just 27 appearances last season, the 25-year-old managed to score nine goals and provide seven assists, which came out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.68 games.

Appearances

27

39

Minutes

2079′

3307′

Goals

9

18

Assists

7

8

Goal Involvements per Match

0.59

0.66

Minutes per Goals Involvement

129.93

127.19

Then this season, he’s found the back of the net 18 times and provided eight assists in 39 appearances, which comes out to a brilliant average of a goal involvement every 1.5 games.

Finally, another valuable trait the Avallon-born monster possesses is the ability to play up top and as a second striker as well as off the right, meaning he’d provide Arteta with even more attacking options – something he desperately needs.

Ultimately, Mbeumo is a Premier League-proven goalscorer, and while he might not be as prolific as Salah, he’s still an incredible attacking talent and someone Arsenal should sign.

Arsenal line up move for PSG star who'd be a big upgrade on Martinelli

The incredibly entertaining international is just what Arsenal need this summer.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 8, 2025

Liverpool are gearing up for a busy summer indeed, with FSG moving swiftly to snap up the signing of Jeremie Frimpong, who is set to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back when his £30m release clause is activated.

Trent’s quality is such that Liverpool need to replace him with multiple players. That’s why plans are reportedly being drawn to sign Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz, who is one of the most sought-after and talented playmakers in the world.

He’s outperformed Liverpool’s similarly fielded players this season and would likely be the star of the show under the Anfield lights next year.

Of course, this shouldn’t detract from Liverpool’s principal goal this summer: signing a new centre-forward.

Liverpool lining up new striker

Darwin Nunez is allegedly set to leave, and an upgrade is surely needed for Arne Slot’s side to do it all over again next year.

Transfer Focus

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

Well, according to GIVEMESPORT, Liverpool are ‘on course to up the ante’ in their bid to sign Hugo Ekitike having sent scouts over to Germany to watch the Frenchman in action this weekend, with Eintracht Frankfurt facing Freiburg in the culminating game of the Bundesliga season.

Frankfurt, third, have benefited immensely from Ekitike’s dynamic attacking play this season, and it’s not surprising that they are seeking an £84m payment to part with their pride and joy.

£84m is no small sum, but it’s more payable than Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, who has been named a £150m player to dissuade suitors from placing bids this summer.

Why Hugo Ekitike is perfect for Liverpool

Ekitike is a young and hungry centre-forward with an immense amount of ability. He scores goals, but he also knits attacking play together, makes intelligent passes, outfoxes his opponents with agile movements.

He made headway toward the end of the 2023/24 campaign. Signed for a reported €35m (£30m) fee last summer, Ekitike had already been playing for Die Roten as a loanee for five months, blanking across his first nine Bundesliga appearances before netting four from five to close the campaign.

Now, the signs of a first-class player have been found and fostered. Across all competitions, the 22-year-old has posted 22 goals and 11 assists this season, with his all-around game leading football legend Wesley Sneijder to claim he has “the grace of Neymar” while journalist Graeme Bailey has described him as the “next Mbappe”.

Matches (starts)

32 (30)

Goals

15

Assists

7

Shots (on target)*

3.4 (1.4)

Big chances missed

15

Pass completion

76%

Big chances created

12

Key passes*

1.3

Dribbles*

1.6

Duels won*

4.2

There’s no question that securing Ekitike’s services would be a more important deal than bagging Wirtz, and that’s saying something. Wirtz is a phenomenal player, already one of the best in his position at 22.

But Ekitike, his age-mate, has been described as “one of the best centre-forwards out there” by analyst Ben Mattinson, and he’s only just getting started.

As per FBref, the Frenchman ranks among the top 10% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 7% for shot-creating actions and the top 5% for both progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90.

With an athletic and all-encompassing approach to the striker’s game, Ekitike is not just a fitting Nunez heir at number nine but indeed one of the most exciting profiles out there, with a completeness that Slot could use to fashion a new superstar.

Of course, in an ideal world, Liverpool would succeed in plucking both forwards from the German scene this summer, but it would seem prudent to address the Merseysiders’ glaring deficiency at centre-forward before turning toward the staggering sums required to win the Wirtz race.

A dream for Salah: Liverpool moving to sign "the world's best midfielder"

Liverpool boss Arne Slot’s season will be rewarded in the transfer market this summer.

2 ByAngus Sinclair May 15, 2025

A summer of huge change awaits for Manchester City.

On Saturday, the Sky Blues were beaten 1-0 by Crystal Palace in the FA Cup Final at Wembley, meaning they will end the campaign without silverware, well unless, like Pep Guardiola, you include August’s Community Shield.

Now, ahead of Tuesday night’s clash with Bournemouth at the Etihad, the Citizens find themselves outside the Champions League places, something that would have been simply unthinkable before the season began, requiring four points from their final two fixtures to secure a top-five finish; anything less could be catastrophic.

Even with Premier League games still to play, Man City’s summer transfer activity is well underway, so could a new “world-class” midfielder be arriving very soon?

Manchester City targeting a new midfielder

As has been widely reported, including by Sami Mokbel of BBC Sport, Manchester City have withdrawn their interest in Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz due to ‘the soaring costs of any deal’.

Paul Hirst and Paul Joyce of the Times claim that die Schwarzroten value their star asset at £126m, hence why Man City have turned their attention to other targets; Bayern Munich and Liverpool are still in the race to secure Wirtz’s signature.

So, who’s the alternative? Well, according to a report from TEAMtalk, Manchester City ‘have accelerated their efforts’ to sign AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders and are now preparing a bid worth £59m.

Sky Sports Switzerland has previously reported that personal terms have been agreed, with the Citizens ‘fully committed’ to finalising this deal, although there is currently a gap in valuation, with reports claiming he is valued at €90m (around £76m), significantly higher than Man City’s initial offer of €60m (£50m).

So, why are Man City so determined to complete this deal?

How Reijnders compares to Wirtz

Well, Graham Ruthven of Total Soccer Show asserts that Reijnders has been AC Milan’s ‘best player this season’, taking his game to another level since the arrival of Sérgio Conceição in January, while analyst Ben Mattinson believes the Dutchman is capable of playing at a “world-class level”.

So, how would Reijnders fit in at the Etihad, and would his arrival soften the blow of missing out on another highly coveted midfielder in Wirtz?

Let’s asses how these two players compare.

Appearances

53

45

Minutes

4,501

3,392

Goals

15

16

Assists

5

15

Shots

125

121

Shots on target %

40.8%

45.5%

Non-penalty goals – xG

+3.2

+4.1

Big chances created

10

23

Progressive carries

132

159

Progressive passes

272

229

Pass completion %

87.9%

79.9%

Shot-creating actions

136

191

Goal-creating actions

11

30

Take-on success %

47.9%

48.3%

Interceptions

49

22

Ball recoveries

148

145

Average Sofascore Rating

7.29

7.56

As the table outlines, many of Wirtz’s statistics are outstanding, which is not too surprising considering he is, indisputably, one of the best creative midfielders in the world, ranked second in the Bundesliga this season for big chances created.

Nevertheless, Reijnders’ statistics are pretty comparable across the board, mustering more shots, registering more progressive passes and completing a higher percentage of his passes, while his out-of-possession statistics, namely interceptions and ball recoveries, are also higher.

So, the Dutchman is a more well-rounded midfielder, which could be exactly what City need given that, as outlined by Sam Lee of the Athletic, the Citizens’ midfield has been far too easy to play against this season, ever since Rodri suffered his long-term ACL injury in September.

Thus, as much as Wirtz would have been a game-changing arrival, while Reijnders may not have quite as much name recognition, all the indications are that he’ll be an excellent addition, even if quite an expensive one.

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

Manchester United have wasted no time in the transfer market to aid Ruben Amorim in being a success at Old Trafford, already making a move to sign one player.

Matheus Cunha has been a player constantly linked with a switch to join the Red Devils over recent months, with a deal seemingly edging ever closer ahead of the final game of the Premier League campaign.

It’s been widely reported that the club have been in advanced talks with Wolves over a deal for the Brazilian international ahead of the summer despite the failure to win the Europa League.

The 25-year-old has a £62.5m release clause within his current contract, but that doesn’t appear to be an issue after agreeing a deal to pay such a figure out in multiple instalments.

However, despite the movement with a deal for Cunha, it appears as though one deal could be completed before him, with another deal edging closer to completion.

The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer

After such a dismal year in the Premier League throughout 2024/25, new additions are to be expected at United to try and right the wrongs of the current campaign.

The likes of Ronald Araujo, Ederson and Viktor Gyokeres have all been strongly linked already ahead of the off-season, as the hierarchy look to bolster various areas of the pitch.

However, despite the interest in the aforementioned players, Palmeiras star Richard Rios could be the first summer signing, according to one Spanish outlet.

Their report claims that he’s seen as a key part of the revival at Old Trafford, and could be available for a fee in the region of just £20m – an absolute bargain.

It also claims that, despite the move for Cunha, the 24-year-old could be set to be the first addition to the new project led by Amorim to lead the club back to their former glory.

Why Rios would be an upgrade on Ugarte

Midfielder Manuel Ugarte was seen as a huge signing last summer after joining in a £50m deal from PSG, looking to be a key part of the rebuild conducted by former boss Erik ten Hag.

The Uruguayan has started 22 league games to date, often having a stop-start period in the North West and being unable to string up a real run of games over the last few months.

He was benched for the Europa League final defeat against Spurs on Wednesday night, not even being brought on by Amorim – potentially highlighting his form of late in the first-team.

It remains to be seen if he will be part of the manager’s long-term plans at the club, but a deal for Rios could further limit his game time and offer Amorim a quality option in the middle of the park.

The Colombian, who’s been labelled a “machine” by analyst Ben Mattinson, has managed to match or better him in numerous key areas this campaign – highlighting why his £20m fee would be a bargain.

Rios has registered more goals and assists throughout 2024/25, handing the side an added attacking option from a deep-lying role, something which is needed given their lack of threat this season.

He’s also managed to complete more of the passes he’s attempted, registering more key passes per 90 – handing the players ahead of him the chance to bolster their own tallies.

Games played

27

29

Goals & assists

6

3

Progressive carries

1.1

0.8

Progressive passes

2.5

3

Pass accuracy

91%

89%

Key passes

1.1

0.5

Blocks made

2.2

1.6

Interceptions made

1.4

1.3

The 24-year-old’s talent out of possession is just as impressive, making more blocks and interceptions per 90, offering the added defensive presence they need, given their lowly league standing.

£20m in today’s market is a bargain price, especially for a player of Rios’ quality, with his skillset certainly bolstering the options currently at Amorim’s disposal.

As seen by the stats produced in recent times, he’s managed to better Ugarte in such a role, possibly being a key player in their ambitions of pushing back up the league table in 2025/26.

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