A “very good” Birmingham City player has now reportedly agreed a deal to leave the Blues imminently, with a medical at his new club booked early this week.
Birmingham boss Davies positive ahead of Championship return
The Blues are edging closer to their return to the Championship, with the new season getting started with a mouthwatering home clash with Ipswich Town on August 8th.
On Saturday, Birmingham were beaten 4-0 by Crewe Alexandra in a surprise pre-season friendly defeat, but despite this, manager Chris Davies was in good spirits about what he saw from his side.
“The No. 1 thing you’re looking for is, can you build your fitness from these type of games as the first 60 minutes we’ve been exposed to this season? I think the boys looked leggy, they’ve had a strong week in training. So, I think that’ll do them the world of good having that 60 minutes under their belt for most of them.
“I thought first half we were very fluid, we conceded a ridiculous goal which we won’t concede any worse than that, so that’s something to learn from. “But then it was obviously all us and we were pretty fluid, we just lacked a bit of killer instinct in the in the final bit. That will come.”
Birmingham will know that new signings are needed before the end of the summer transfer window – Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been mentioned as an ambitious target – but now a current player has been linked with a move away from the club.
Alfie May set for Birmingham exit
According to a fresh claim from Football League World, Birmingham striker Alfie May has agreed a move to League One side Huddersfield Town and could undergo a medical on Monday, having almost joined them last year.
A £1.2m transfer is expected to go through imminently, bringing an end to the 32-year-old Scot’s one-year spell with the Blues in the process.
May leaving Birmingham this summer may come as a surprise to some, considering he played such a key role in helping his side win the League One title last season, scoring 16 goals and registering eight assists in the competition, also being praised by Davies.
“He was very good. He dropped in as a false nine in possession and is very good at linking the play. He knows where the opposition players are and where to take his touch. He was brought in just to score goals basically and he took it brilliantly again. That’s why we signed him.”
That said, May isn’t considered a key starter and is now jumping up a division, not to mention being 32 years of age, so cashing in on him now makes sense, with his current deal expiring in the summer of 2027.
Everton manager David Moyes finally completed a deal to bring Thierno Barry to the club from Villarreal.
A fee of £27m was spent to sign the Frenchman, but given his eye for goal in La Liga last term, it could turn into a bargain.
Next up for Moyes is adding another midfielder or two to his squad in the coming weeks. John McGinn has been heavily linked with a move to Merseyside.
He isn’t the only midfield option that Everton have been linked with, however, as Moyes also has his eyes on two former Premier League stars.
Everton’s search for a midfielder
According to Paul Joyce of The Times, Everton are showing interest in bringing Douglas Luiz back to England this summer.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
He has been discussed internally at Everton, alongside McGinn, while Moyes could be set to target an ambitious move for Joao Palhinha – with the Portuguese also named as one of those under consideration.
The Bayern Munich midfielder hasn’t settled in Bavaria, which could open the door for Moyes to make a swoop this summer.
Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha.
This experience abroad will have enhanced Palhinha’s skills, no doubt about that. The question is, could he be a better signing than McGinn for the Toffees?
Why Everton must sign Joao Palhinha
McGinn would be a fine signing, for that there is no doubt. Across 203 Premier League appearances, the Scot has scored 17 goals and grabbed 25 assists for Villa.
He will turn 31 in October, however, and while McGinn certainly has a few years left at the very top of the game, Moyes would be best to make a move for Palhinha, who offers more from a defensive point of view.
The Toffees conceded 53 goals last season across 42 matches. Not the worst return, but there is room for improvement.
When compared to his positional peers during his final Premier League campaign for Fulham in 2023/24, Palhinha ranked in the top 1% for tackles (5.07) per 90, while also ranking in the top 8% for interceptions (1.53) and in the top 10% for blocks (1.9) that season.
He may have only started six Bundesliga games for Bayern last term, but the Portuguese midfielder still won 58% of his total duels contested, while losing possession just 3.4 times per match.
Accurate passes
33.2
Tackles
4.6
Interceptions
1.4
Total duels won
7.6
Possession lost
9.1
Balls recovered
5.9
Hailed by journalist Dom Smith as “world-class” in November 2023, it was always going to be difficult for Fulham to keep one of their star men.
After just a single season in Germany, it appears as though Palhinha could be available this summer.
Bayern Munich's Joao Palhinha in action against Bayer Leverksen.
McGinn would offer plenty in the final third, but with Barry arriving, plus at least another couple more attacking players, Moyes must add some solidity to the midfield, especially after losing Abdoulaye Doucoure.
As such, signing a player such as Palhinha could turn into a stroke of genius by the manager given his previous success in the English top flight.
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Much will depend on the fee, but if it is within the club’s price range, Palhinha could be a fantastic signing, turning out to be even better than McGinn.
Moyes' own Palmer: Everton enter race for "special" £35m McAtee alternative
Everton are making sweeping changes in the summer transfer market.
Manchester United have been desperately hunting for a new striker throughout this summer transfer window, understandably so, too, given their lack of clinical edge.
Ruben Amorim’s side registered just 44 goals in their 38 Premier League outings this season, with only four sides scoring fewer – three of which were relegated to the Championship.
Their inability to find the back of the net on a consistent basis undoubtedly contributed to their lowly league standing, with no player in the squad managing to hit double figures for goals.
Rasmus Hojlund, who was the Red Devils’ main talisman, only netted four goals, highlighting the need for reinforcements in such a department this window.
Countless players have already been touted with summer moves to Old Trafford, but it remains to be seen which talisman the hierarchy will go after for the manager.
The latest on United’s hunt for a new striker this summer
Viktor Gyokeres is a player who appeared out of reach this window, but it appears United have been handed a lifeline after it was confirmed he would be open to a reunion with Amorim in 2025/26.
He’s not the only talent on their radar, with Juventus star Dušan Vlahović also considered as an option, potentially leading to a swap deal with Jadon Sancho moving to Italy as a result.
However, the aforementioned duo aren’t the only ones being considered, as work is being done over a potential deal to land RB Leipzig talisman Benjamin Sesko, according to TBR Football.
They claim that internal talks have been held behind the scenes at Old Trafford in recent weeks, with the Slovenian popping up as an option after netting 21 goals in 45 appearances this year.
It also states that the staff behind the scenes have been extensively monitoring the 22-year-old in recent times, but confirmed that no deal is yet at an advanced stage.
Why United’s latest target would become world class alongside Bruno
Bruno Fernandes will go down as one of United’s best ever additions, thriving beyond all imagination after his £47m move from Sporting CP back in January 2020.
The Portuguese international rapidly made himself a fan favourite, offering a creative and clinical threat that the side had often been lacking before his arrival.
However, he’s sustained such levels, registering over 20 combined goals and assists in each of his seasons in Manchester, often being the shining light in tricky periods – none more so than this campaign
The 30-year-old accumulated a total of 37 combined goals and assists, with it unimaginable to think where the side would be without his contributions in 2024/25.
He undoubtedly has the creative nature, but has been lacking that lethal striker ahead of him, which could further bolster his tallies should the hierarchy land one in the coming months.
RB Leipzig's BenjaminSeskocelebrates their second goal scored by Lukas Klostermann
Sesko could prove to be the beneficiary should he move to Old Trafford, having the chance to thrive alongside Bruno, who managed to create 2.7 chances per 90 this season.
He also registered a pass accuracy of 82%, which aided him, allowing him to notch 18 assists, something which the Slovenian could take his game to the next level with.
The Leipzig star, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by talent scout Antonio Mango, registered 1.2 shots on target per 90 at an accuracy rate of 44% – handing Amorim’s side the talisman they’ve needed.
The youngster has also completed 52% of the take-ons he’s attempted, whilst coming out on top in 59% of aerial battles, with his all-round nature certainly handing the side a new dimension.
Games played
33
Goals & assists
18
Shots on target per 90
1.2
Shot on target accuracy
44%
Take-ons completed
52%
Aerials won
59%
Progressive carries
1.8
He’s also demonstrated his desire to run in behind and play off the shoulder of the defender, a skillset that is extremely rare in today’s game, making himself a real nuisance to the opposition backline.
Such a deal would be a phenomenal one for the Red Devils, allowing them to take a huge step under the guidance of Amorim throughout 2025/26.
RB Leipzig's BenjaminSeskobefore taking a penalty
If he can strike up a partnership with Fernandes next season, it would massively help the Red Devils catapult up the table, making the club a force to be reckoned with once again.
He's better than Gyokeres: Wilcox plots Man Utd move for £150m talisman
Manchester United have joined a long list of suitors in the race to sign a new striker.
Thomas Frank has a huge task on his hands next season if he is to transform the situation at Tottenham Hotspur after the club’s form in England’s top flight.
The Lilywhites finished the season in 17th place in the Premier League last time around, losing 22 times in the process – leading to Ange Postecoglou’s subsequent dismissal in North London.
However, the side’s Europa League triumph against Manchester United in Bilbao is evidence of the levels they can reach, needing to use such an achievement as a springboard into 2025/26.
Frank will need to be backed by the hierarchy in his quest, needing to make key changes to his squad he desires to push them back towards a top five finish in the near future.
The Dane has showcased at Brentford he’s able to thrive in the Premier League, hoping to do so again across the capital as he wastes no time in making moves in the market.
The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new attackers this summer
Wingers have been high up on their list in recent weeks, with Spurs strongly linked with a move to land Bryan Mbeumo, securing a return between the player and the manager.
However, he looks set to make a move to Manchester United this window, leading to West Ham United star Mohammed Kudus also emerging as a potential option.
Whilst the aforementioned duo have been on their radar, progress appears to have been made on a deal to land Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, according to one Spanish outlet.
Their report claims that Frank’s side are set to make a £65m bid to land the 25-year-old this window after 11 goals and five assists in the league this campaign.
It also confirms that the Cherries aren’t prepared to lose another one of their star players, but the Lilywhites are confident they can secure a move for his signature this window.
Why Semenyo would be Frank’s next Solanke
Striker Dominic Solanke joined in a £65m deal from the same club last summer, with the English international seen as the heir to Harry Kane after his departure 12 months prior.
Tottenham's Dominic Solanke
The 27-year-old managed to score 16 times in his 45 appearances across all competitions, with five of his efforts coming in Europe and helping the side end their 17-year trophy wait.
Like many players in the current first team squad, he’s had his own injury issues this campaign, restricting him from having the dream first year in North London.
However, he’s still managed to showcase his talents within the final third, ending the year as the club’s second-highest goalscorer in the division for 2024/25.
Frank could be about to land his next version of Solanke this window, with Semenyo following in his footsteps and moving to Spurs to rekindle their impressive partnership.
AFC Bournemouth's AntoineSemenyolooks on
Whilst the fee touted appears to be an expensive one, the Ghanaian international has showcased his skillset this season, adding a new dimension to Frank’s forward line should he complete a move.
Semenyo, who’s been labelled “incredible” by journalist Owuraku Ampofo, registered 16 combined goals and assists, a figure that would’ve made him the joint-highest contributor in the current squad.
Games played
37
Goals & assists
16
Shots on target
1.2
Successful dribbles
1.9
Chances created
1.3
Touches in opposition box
5.9
Aerials won
1.9
His underlying stats are just as impressive, registering 1.2 shots on target per 90, along with 1.9 successful dribbles – highlighting the threat he poses in attacking areas.
The 25-year-old has also created 1.3 chances per 90, whilst also notching 5.9 touches in the opposition box per 90, having the tools to star alone or even provide players around him in North London.
If he can transfer his skillset over to the Lilywhites next season, it would be a superb deal at £65m, having the potential to improve further with further quality players around him in Frank’s side.
Such a transfer could provide the added cutting edge needed for success, handing the manager the best possible chance of impressing during his first year at the helm.
Big Johnson upgrade: Spurs open initial talks to sign £70m "monster"
Tottenham are hoping to sign a right-sided forward this summer.
It would be fair to say that this season was something of a disappointment for Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta’s side ended up ten points off Liverpool in the Premier League, failed to make a dent in the FA Cup, and, with better finishing, could have realistically been in a Champions League final.
However, while it’s easy to focus on the negative, there have been at least a few positives, such as the development and performances of Jurrien Timber, who seriously stepped up in the absence of Ben White.
The Dutchman is now unquestionably one of the manager’s best signings, and based on reports, it looks like he could soon have himself another younger version of the international.
Arsenal transfer news
Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other young talents Arsenal have been linked with in recent weeks, such as Adam Wharton and Konstantinos Karetsas.
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 is reportedly available for close to £80m this summer, and while that is a lot of money to spend on someone who is just 21 years old, he’s more than proven his ability at Crystal Palace and played a key role in their FA Cup triumph this year.
Karetsas, on the other hand, is a little harder to justify at a whopping £38m, as while he’s seriously impressed in Belgium this season, he is still just 17 years old, and that sort of money would probably be better off being spent on someone who could play for the team next year.
With that said, while these two youngsters are incredibly talented, neither one can be described as anything like Timber, unlike Jorrel Hato.
Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are one of several teams incredibly interested in the Ajax star.
The report has revealed that Arsenal, alongside the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and Newcastle United, have already made contact to find out more information about a possible transfer.
However, on top of having to contend with some serious competition, Andrea Berta and Co would have to stump a fee of up to €50m to get their man, which is about £42m.
Ajax Amsterdam's JorrelHatocelebrates after the match
It could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but it is one Arsenal should be fighting for, especially as he’d be the club’s next Timber.
Why Hato would be Arsenal's next timber
Now, it might sound like a bold claim to suggest that a teenager from outside the top five leagues could develop into a full-back who was impeccable against Real Madrid home and away in the Champions League.
Arsenal's JurrienTimbercelebrates after the match
Yet, that is exactly what we are suggesting, and there are a number of reasons why.
Firstly, the Eridivise might not be one of the best leagues in Europe, but it’s only just outside the top five, sitting in sixth place, and crucially, Timber made his way to North London from the Netherlands.
In fact, not only did the Gunners’ ace join Arteta’s title challengers from the same country, but he did so from Ajax, which is where Hato is currently plying his trade.
Furthermore, the pair are both Dutch and on top of coming up through the Ajax academy, they also share the ability to play in more than one position, depending on what the manager wants and needs.
Left-Back
68
3
6
Centre-Back
41
1
3
Left Midfield
1
0
0
Centre-Back
170
9
6
Right-Back
82
4
5
Left-Back
22
1
1
Defensive Midfield
2
1
0
For example, we all know that Timber is at his best at right-back, but he’s already played at centre-back and left-back since moving to England, just as the in-demand youngster has primarily played at left-back in his career but is more than comfortable at centre-back as well.
Finally, it’s not just us who see the parallels, as respected analyst Ben Mattinson has described the 19-year-old gem as “Timber 2.0.”
Ultimately, he might not be cheap, but Hato looks destined to be a monster of a defender, and for that reason, Arsenal should do what they can to bring him to the club, as he could be their new Timber.
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Arsenal are closing in on the signing of Martin Zubimendi.
Now that Rangers have a manager in place, their transfer window activity can begin in earnest.
Last week, Russell Martin was unveiled as the 20th permanent manager in Rangers’ 153-year history, but he faces a big task to guide the Gers through Champions League qualifying this summer and then, ultimately, aiming to topple their rivals at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
That will all be a tough task, but could Martin land his dream midfield signing early into his tenure in Glasgow?
Rangers' chasing midfield reinforcements
While recruitment as far as new players are concerned hasn’t been Kevin Thelwell’s first priority since heading to Rangers, attention can now finally turn to who could improve the squad at Ibrox.
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 a report by Alan Nixon of the Scottish Sun, Martin would like Rangers to sign midfielder Flynn Downes this summer.
The 26-year-old played for Martin at Swansea and Southampton, initially on loan when the Saints gained promotion from the EFL Championship last year, before he made his move from West Ham to the South Coast permanent a year ago for a reported £18m fee.
Southampton's Flynn Downes in action with Brighton & Hove Albion's Joao Pedro
That sky-high price tag could prove to be a severe stumbling block, considering Rangers’ record signing of all time is the £12m paid to sign Tore André Flo in 2000, while the highest fee they’ve paid in the modern era is £7.5m for Ryan Kent in 2019.
Nevertheless, after Southampton were instantaneously relegated from the Premier League after just one season back in the top-flight, there could potentially be a fire-sale at St Mary’s, with Downes possibly amongst those sacrificed.
Most expensive SPFL signings (timeless) Rangers Celtic
So, could he be reunited with his former manager north of the border?
How Downes compares to Lundstram
Signing English players from down south is certainly not a new strategy for Rangers, with John Lundstram certainly one of the more successful of their imports of the modern era.
After failing to make a senior appearance for Everton, the midfielder, fair to say, was a bit of a journeyman, playing for Doncaster Rovers, Yeovil Town, Leyton Orient across two spells, Blackpool, Scunthorpe United and Oxford United.
He belatedly burst onto the scene at Sheffield United, making 62 Premier League appearances for the Blades, a key figure as Chris Wilder’s team finished ninth in 2019/20 as a newly-promoted club.
Nevertheless, it was only once he got to Glasgow that Lundstram truly found a home.
In total, the midfielder featured over 150 times for Rangers, scoring 11 goals, including the late winner against RB Leipzig that booked the club’s place in the Europa League Final, winning the Scottish Cup and League Cup, starting all three finals.
He ultimately departed for Trabzonspor on a Bosman last summer but, should Downes arrive, Rangers supporters would be hoping he could have a similar impact to that of his compatriot.
Host Dan Woffenden describes Downes as “class”, while Roshane Thomas of the Athletic labels him an excellent passer, also documenting how he ‘thrived under manager Russell Martin’ when the pair were together at Swansea.
Southampton'sFlynnDownesin action with Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White
Meantime, Chris Beaumont of Total Football Analysis praises the midfielder’s ‘fantastic engine’ and ‘physical presence’, asserting that he is one of the ‘hottest midfield prospects’ in English football.
So, let’s assess his statistics in the EFL Championship from the 2023/24 campaign.
Minutes
2,550
163rd
Completed passes
2,019
29th
Pass completion %
93%
3rd
Short passes completed
1,152
12th
Touches
2,419
50th
It is worth mentioning that statistics from Downes’ season in the second-tier were used due to how generally hopeless Southampton were in the Premier League this season, thereby providing a data set that is uninformative.
Also worth noting that, according to Global Football Ranking, the Championship is the 11th strongest league in the world, compared to the Scottish Premiership down in 43rd, thereby offering a slightly more comparable level.
Thus, what the numbers do underline is that Downes is a high-quality passer, ranked third for pass completion percentage, while more than half of these passes were short, between five and 15 yards.
So, in Martin’s system that prioritises possession, he could be exactly the midfielder Rangers require, potentially having an equally enormous impact at Ibrox to that of Lundstram.
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Ask Arsenal fans what it is they need this summer, and the most common answer you’ll get is a striker.
No players hit double digits for Premier League goals in Mikel Arteta’s squad this season, whereas Arne Slot had three players manage the feat, with Mohamed Salah racking up an unreal 29.
Such an evident weakness in the squad has seen the club linked with a host of incredible strikers over the last few months, and while Alexander Isak is undoubtedly at the top of most supporters’ wishlists, his supposed £150m price tag now looks secure as ever following Newcastle United’s qualification for the Champions League on Sunday.
However, while the Swede may be out of reach, recent reports have linked the Gunners with another exciting centre-forward who has won comparisons to him, a centre-forward who’d be a significant Kai Havertz upgrade.
Arsenal's striker search
While it might not always feel like it, there are quite a few strikers who could be on the market this summer, and plenty of them have been touted for moves to Arsenal, such as Viktor Gyokeres and Joao Pedro.
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 has long been linked with the Gunners and could finally be available for close to £63m in the coming weeks, which might just be a steal considering he’s racked up a sublime haul of 54 goals and 13 assists in 52 games for Sporting CP this season.
On the other hand, Pedro might be a harder transfer to justify, as while his tally of ten goals and seven assists in 30 games is impressive, his supposed £100m price tag feels exorbitant.
Brighton & Hove Albion'sJoaoPedroin action with Manchester City's Ruben Dias and Abdukodir Khusanov
Fortunately, another striker has now been linked with the North Londoners, someone compared to the incredible Isak: Nick Woltemade.
According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are one of a handful of clubs incredibly keen on the German forward.
The report claims that Arsenal and Serie A champions Napoli have already made contact with VfB regarding the talented goalscorer, while the likes of Atlético Madrid and West Ham United are currently keeping tabs on the situation.
On top of getting ahead of the competition, the North Londoners would have to stump up around €50m to secure the 23-year-old’s signature, which is about £42m.
VfB Stuttgart's Nick Woltemade in action with Bayern Munich's JoaoPalhinhaand Bayern Munich's Kim Min-jae
It might not be the big-name signing some fans want, but on top of the comparisons to Newcastle’s superstar striker, Woltemade would be an upgrade on Havertz.
How Woltemade compares to Isak & Havertz
Before we take a look at how Woltemade stacks up against Havertz, the man he could replace at Arsenal, it’s worth examining this comparison to Isak and where it has come from.
Newcastle United's AlexanderIsakcelebrates scoring their first goal
In this instance, it stems from FBref, which looks at players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, before creating a list of the ten most comparable players.
By doing this, it has been concluded that the Swedish international is the second most similar forward to the German across the last 365 days.
Non-Penalty Expected G+As
0.70
0.70
Progressive Passes
2.89
2.88
Shots on Target
1.28
1.34
Switches
0.11
0.10
Goal-Creating Actions
0.55
0.46
Successful Take-Ons %
43.7%
46.2%
The best way to see how this is worked out is by taking a look at the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, including but not limited to non-penalty expected goals plus assists, shots on target, switches, progressive passes, goal-taking actions and more, all per 90.
With his similarities to the Toon star cleared up, how does he stack up against the Gunners’ number 29?
Well, when it comes to their raw output, which is ultimately what matters most for a striker, it is the “exceptional” Stuttgart star, as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, who comes out on top.
For example, in 33 appearances, totalling 2039 minutes this term, the Bremen-born poacher scored 17 goals and provided three assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.65 games, or every 101.95 minutes.
In contrast, the former Chelsea ace has scored 15 goals and provided five assists in 36 appearances, totalling 2809 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.8 games, or every 140.45 minutes.
Ultimately, Havertz could still be an incredibly useful player next season, but as things stand, Woltemade looks to the superior striker, and therefore, Arsenal should do what they can to sign him this summer.
Arteta has struck gold on Arsenal star who's worth millions more than Wirtz
Arsenal will need to be wary of Florian Wirtz next season.
As Manchester City’s summer clear-out commences, Diego Simeone and Atletico Madrid could reportedly come calling in pursuit of one particular player in the coming months.
Man City set for summer clear-out
It’s been a season to forget for Manchester City, who will be desperate to secure Champions League qualification this Sunday and finally put the current campaign behind them. For the first time in Pep Guardiola’s time at The Etihad, the Citizens have it all to do in the summer transfer window.
No longer are they the dominant champions capable of dispatching 19 other Premier League sides with ease. That’s an era which is ruthlessly and rapidly coming to an end. Instead, the Manchester club need to write a new chapter with new heroes and fresh characters, starting with a number of emotional farewells to several players who will be deemed undeniable legends.
Man City preparing to step up deal to sign £50m star they want done by June
He could be the first signing of their midfield rebuild.
ByTom Cunningham May 24, 2025
Already, of course, Kevin De Bruyne has said his goodbyes. The Belgian – one of the best to ever play for Manchester City – bid an emotional farewell to The Etihad last week to begin a summer of departures for the Citizens.
The midfielder told the fans after waving goodbye: “I wanted to play with creativity, I wanted to play with passion. I wanted to enjoy football and I hope everyone enjoyed it.
“Everybody has pushed me so hard inside and outside the club to be the best version of myself and these guys in front of me have made me better than I was before. It’s an honour to play with these guys. I’ve made so many friends for life.”
In the coming months, it will be a question as to who joins De Bruyne out the exit door at Manchester City. There are certainly a few candidates who are coming to the end of their peaks, whilst another name has also reportedly been targeted by Atletico Madrid.
Atletico Madrid now targeting Grealish
According to reports in Spain, Simeone and Atletico Madrid are now targeting a summer move to sign Jack Grealish, who could leave Manchester City this summer in a bid to gain a starting place elsewhere. The England international has often been forced to watch on from the bench this season and desperately needs a fresh start.
Of course, Grealish wouldn’t be the first English player to complete a move to the Spanish club either. Just last summer, Conor Gallagher decided to leave Chelsea in favour of the Metropolitano and has thrived ever since. Now, a year on, it could be Grealish’s turn to join Simeone in La Liga.
Despite a difficult spell at The Etihad, the £300,000-a-week midfielder has still found himself at the centre of praise from Guardiola, who told reporters following Grealish’s performance against Leyton Orient in the FA Cup earlier this season: “I’m happy for him. I know it’s not easy when you don’t play regularly. In the last game in the FA Cup he played very good, much better than today.”
Whether that praise is enough to keep hold of Grealish seems unlikely at this stage, but only time will tell if Atletico Madrid come calling this summer.
The Champions League is the biggest competition in club football. It is a chance for the world’s best to prove their calibre against the finest leagues and teams in Europe for the ultimate prize of ‘Old Big Ears’ come May or June every year.
As is the case with any competition, it is a marathon rather than a sprint, and Cristiano Ronaldo holds the record for most Champions League goals, with 141 in 183 appearances.
However, the way a club starts can often foretell their chances of glory at the end. This came to pass in the first season of the brand new league phase in 2024/25, with three of the top four clubs reaching the semi-finals.
With this in mind, Football FanCast takes a look at the top 12 goalscorers in the Champions League group stage/league phase.
Stats correct as of 14th May 2025.
Rank
Player
Goals
Lionel Messi
Cristiano Ronaldo
Robert Lewandowski
Karim Benzema
Raul
Ruud van Nistelrooy
Thierry Henry
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Mohamed Salah
Antoine Griezmann
Alessandro Del Piero
Erling Haaland
12 Erling Haaland 33 goals
The newest entrant to this list has wasted little time making a name for himself, with Erling Haaland racing into the record books thanks to his incredible knack for goals.
His first Champions League strikes came for RB Salzburg in the 2019/20 season, scoring a hat-trick on his group stage debut against Genk, before scoring five more in the four matches that followed.
Continuing his hot streak for Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City – with whom he won the competition in 2023 – Haaland has already become one of the competition’s best strikers, yet he’s barely 25. If there’s one challenger to the top scorers, it’s him.
11 Alessandro Del Piero 33 goals
Known as one of the great one-club legends, Alessandro Del Piero is another whose talent perhaps deserved more than the sole winners’ medal he earned in 1996. He always favoured loyalty over glory with Juventus, but his 33 goals in the group stages of the Champions League prove his devotion was bettered by his goal-getting instinct.
In the competition’s history, Del Piero is the highest-scoring Italian, with nine goals in the knockouts bringing his total to 42 on the continental stage.
10 Antoine Griezmann 34 goals
Antoine Griezmann may not have got his hands on the Champions League trophy, but his exploits for Atletico Madrid and Barcelona have ensured his place in the competition’s history.
The Frenchman came closest to the trophy in 2016, when his Atletico side were beaten on penalties by city rivals Real. Griezmann missed a penalty in normal time before Los Rojiblancos found an equaliser, though he made up for it somewhat by scoring in the shootout.
With a further nine goals outside of the group stage, he remains one of the best goalscorers that the Champions League has eluded in the modern era.
9 Mohamed Salah 35 goals
Mo Salah was pivotal to Liverpool’s sixth European triumph when his early penalty against Tottenham set Jurgen Klopp’s men on the way to victory in 2019.
On top of this, he has become the club’s top goalscorer in Europe, while across all UEFA club competitions, he holds the record for most goals scored for an English club, previously set by Thierry Henry in 2006.
In the Champions League, Salah has edged ahead of the likes of Sergio Aguero in the group stage, with his contributions for Basel, Roma and Liverpool making him a legend of the competition.
8 Zlatan Ibrahimovic 38 goals
Europe’s finest journeyman, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, is known on and off the pitch for his confidence and distinctive maverick personality.
In front of goal, he was a monster, and from 38 group stage goals for seven different clubs, there weren’t too many that weren’t absolutely 10/10 spectacular.
Whether it be with his head, left foot, right foot, or through a volley, rocket, or a swerving, curling strike, Zlatan could score any type of goal from any angle or range.
7 Thierry Henry 38 goals
Also on 38 goals, Thierry Henry had a long and successful time playing in the Champions League.
Before Kylian Mbappe tore up the record books, the Arsenal Invincible was the youngest Frenchman to reach the 40-goal mark, while he remains the competition’s all-time second-highest goalscorer from France with half a century – second only to the marvellous Karim Benzema.
Henry crowned his fruit-bearing European adventure in 2009 when he lifted the trophy with Barcelona after brushing Manchester United aside in the final.
6 Ruud van Nistelrooy 50 goals
Former Manchester United forward Ruud van Nistelrooy.
50 goals in the Champions League group stage is quite the jump from 38, especially since there were only six such games each year. But perhaps even more surprising is the fact that Ruud van Nistelrooy is the only Dutchman to make the top 12.
Despite the Oranje boasting a successful bloodline of special footballers, it is the striking endeavours of the Eindhoven product turned Man United and Real Madrid superstar that stand at the very top.
The Ruud Devil, however, is another who never lifted the famous trophy. But in 2001/02, 2002/03 and 2004/05, he finished as the competition’s top goalscorer.
Remarkably, he only ever scored six goals in the knockouts, but everything adds up to an impressive overall tally of 60 Champions League goals.
5 Raúl González 53 goals
Raúl is the highest-ranking Spanish player to feature and is one of his nation’s most decorated footballers.
Raúl became the first player to score 50 Champions League goals when he scored in a 2-1 group stage win over Olympiacos in September 2005 and was also the first to make 100 appearances in the competition. He was also the first player to score in two Champions League finals since the competition’s rebrand, notching in the finals of 2000 and 2002.
It is no surprise, then, to learn that the Spaniard is the fifth-highest goalscorer in the competition’s history, while he is joint-fifth in terms of winning the famous trophy thanks to three triumphs with Real Madrid – the benchmark football club on the continent.
4 Karim Benzema 56 goals
Somewhat overshadowed by Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, in his own right, is one of the greatest out-and-out strikers of all time.
He is France’s top goalscorer in European competition with 90 goals in 140 games, and he is the first in this ranking to have won both the Champions League (five times!) and the Ballon d’Or (2022).
3 Robert Lewandowski 71 goals
Robert Lewandowski’s entire career has been enmeshed in near-misses when it comes to silverware. He should have won the Ballon d’Or in 2020, robbed by a pandemic. Yet, his record proves he’s one of the greatest number 9s ever.
Nowadays, he aims for more glory with Barcelona, even in his mid-thirties. The Poland international will hope to add to his tally group stage goals in 2025/26.
Across all stages of the Champions League, Lewandowski has 105 goals – third in the overall ranking once more.
There is no denying it: this season has been a disaster for Tottenham Hotspur.
Ange Postecoglou can end it spectacularly by winning the Europa League, but when it comes to the Premier League, things could not have gone much worse.
In fact, had it not been for some genuinely terrible form from the newly promoted sides, there might have been a real discussion around possible relegation at points, as so far, the North Londoners have lost a staggering 19 games in the league.
It’s been so poor that it seems as if Postecoglou will be on the way out regardless of what happens in Europe next, which has, in turn, seen a plethora of names linked with the job, including old boss Mauricio Pochettino and Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola.
However, another name has also been linked with the job, someone who could make the board forget about the rest.
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Why Spurs would want Poch or Iraola
So, before getting to the manager in question, it’s worth looking at why the North Londoners might want to hire Pochettino or Iraola.
When it comes to the former, there are several reasons at play, but they all come back to one thing: familiarity.
Since leaving the club, it would be fair to say that the Argentine has not enhanced his reputation.
First came an unspectacular stint at Paris Saint-Germain, then a dire season with Chelsea and, as things stand, a disappointing spell in charge of the USMNT.
However, during his time in N17, he helped build a squad almost from the ground up, turned them into serious Premier League and Champions League contenders, and, just as importantly, formed a genuine connection with the fans.
Daniel Levy and Co would want to bring him back because they know that Pochettino can deliver at the club because he has done it before.
Iraola, on the other hand, does not have that familiarity with the club or fans, but he has the wind in his sails and is arguably one of the most exciting up-and-coming managers in the league.
For example, he took charge of a Cherries side that looked destined for relegation last year and has turned them into European hopefuls this season, all while losing their talismanic striker to the Lilywhites in the summer.
Games (All Comps)
83
Wins
33
Draws
20
Losses
30
Points per Game
1.43
Moreover, he helped to transform Rayo Vallecano in Spain before coming to England, so he has proven himself in more than one dugout.
With all that said, another manager hasn’t been talked about as much, but could be just the man Tottenham needs.
The Manager to make Spurs forget Poch & Iraola
According to reports from Germany earlier this month, as relayed by GIVEMESPORT, Tottenham have inquired about Borussia Dortmund’s Niko Kovač.
The Croatian coach may not be all that familiar to fans of English football, but for fans of the Bundesliga, he’s a well-known and well-respected quantity.
For example, over the last seven years, he has managed Eintracht Frankfurt, VfL Wolfsburg, Bayern Munich and most currently Dortmund – while spending a year and a half with AS Monaco.
Dortmund
17
1,76
Wolfsburg
66
1.30
Monaco
74
1.95
Bayern
65
2.26
Frankfurt
91
1.54
Described as “one of the best coaches in Europe” by football writer Sebastien C, the 53-year-old is generally regarded as a coach who likes his teams to play vertically, getting the ball forward quickly when possible, but also something of a pragmatist who likes his sides to be defensively sound.
This could see him win over the Tottenham faithful early on, as he wouldn’t be as gung-ho as Postecoglou, but he wouldn’t want to shut up shop as much as Antonio Conte, for example.
Moreover, he’s shown a willingness to switch up his formation to suit his players in the past and is currently employing a 4-2-3-1 at Signal Iduna Park.
This is a set-up that could work wonders in North London as well, with extra cover in front of the club’s frequently shaky backline.
Finally, he’d join the club as a proven winner, having picked up the German Cup with Frankfurt and then winning the Cup and League double with Bayern a year later, in 2019.
Ultimately, Kovac might not be the first name that comes to fans’ minds when thinking of Spurs’ next manager, but thanks to his moderate pragmatism and historical successes in the dugout, he should be.
Uh oh: Ange hints £190k-a-week Spurs star could miss Bodo/Glimt with injury
Postecoglou has dropped a worrying injury update ahead of Tottenham’s crucial Europa League tie.