All posts by n8rngtd.top

They might have dropped points last time out, but Arsenal are flying this season.

They sit four points clear atop the Premier League table and second in the Champions League, with four wins and four clean sheets in as many games.

One of the stars of the Gunners’ impressive campaign so far has been Declan Rice, who has been as crucial going forward as he has been in keeping those clean sheets.

Therefore, fans should be delighted about reports linking them with another top-quality international who’d be a Rice-type signing.

Arsenal target Rice-Type signing

The transfer window is still over a month away, but Arsenal are starting to be linked with some exciting players again.

Transfer Focus

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

For example, stories are once again touting Real Madrid’s Rodrygo for a move to the Emirates following a disappointing start to the season.

A cheaper, lesser-known, but nonetheless exciting wide option the Gunners have been linked with is Lyon’s Malick Fofana, who has been catching the attention of some of Europe’s biggest clubs.

However, while either attacker would be an exciting addition to the team, neither could be described as particularly Rice-esque, unlike Elliot Anderson.

Yes, according to reports from Spain, Arsenal are one of several clubs interested in the Nottingham Forest star.

In fact, the report has revealed that North Londoners are set to enter the bidding war for the England international, who has a price tag of between £100m and £120m.

It could therefore be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Anderson’s immense ability, it’s one worth pursuing, especially as it would be a Rice-type signing.

Why Elliot Anderson would be a Rice repeat for Arsenal

Now, there are obviously some differences between Rice and Anderson, from their playstyles to career paths, but were the latter to join Arsenal, there would be many parallels with the former’s move as well.

For example, it would be another example of the Gunners going out and spending north of £100m on a top-quality central midfielder from a non ‘big six’ Premier League team.

Moreover, like the former West Ham United captain was at the time of his move, the Forest ace is now an established and vitally important player for England.

In fact, ahead of his side’s win over Serbia, Thomas Tuchel described the 23-year-old as a “key player” for the Three Lions and “one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.”

The fact that he is such an incredible central midfielder is another obvious trait he shares with the Gunners’ number 41, as is his versatility.

For example, since moving to the City Ground, the former Newcastle United gem has made 25 appearances in central midfield, 20 in defensive midfield, five in left midfield and three in attacking midfield.

In other words, like the former Hammers star, the “world-class” ace, as dubbed by one commentator, could play wherever Arteta wanted him to in the middle of the park, and as a result, form relationships with a host of Arsenal players.

Finally, on top of also taking corners, the Whitley Bay-born “powerhouse,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, has some incredible underlying numbers to his name, proving that the comparisons to Rice are fully justified.

According to FBref, he ranks in the top 1% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for ball recoveries, the top 3% for tackles in the defensive third, the top 4% for carries into the penalty area, the top 7% for successful take-ons and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, while it would cost a king’s ransom, Arsenal should do what they can to sign Anderson, as he’s an excellent player and could have a Rice-type impact on the team.

Arsenal lost 'one of the world's best', now he's outperforming Saka & Eze

The incredible international is now playing better than Arsenal’s Eze and Saka.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Nov 14, 2025

The New York Mets will likely be without pitcher Sean Manaea to start the season as he's dealing with a right oblique strain, the team's manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters on Monday.

Mendoza shared that Manaea will be "shut down" for a couple of weeks, and it's likely the starting pitcher will begin the 2025 season on the injured list. There is no clear timeline for when he's expected to make his season debut.

In his first year with the Mets last season, Manaea started 32 games, posting a 12-6 record and a 3.47 ERA—the lowest in his career when he's started in over 25 games. He struck out 184 batters and walked 63 over his career-high 181 2/3 innings pitched. Manaea made four postseason starts in the Mets' run to the National League Championship Series, posting a 2-1 record with a 4.74 ERA and 19 strikeouts.

The Mets were clearly impressed with Manaea's season with them as they signed him to a three-year, $75 million contract in December.

Crisis over? Not quite yet. Sure, Liverpool put five past woeful Eintracht Frankfurt to get their Champions League campaign back on track, but fans will now expect a continuation of that performance carried into the weekend.

Liverpool travel to Brentford on Saturday evening, having lost three on the bounce in the Premier League. Last week’s Anfield defeat at the hands of Manchester United was a low ebb, and Arne Slot will no doubt have been chagrinned by this polarising level of performance.

Last season, of course, the Reds romped their way to the Premier League title. Few, if any, anticipated a title battle after Jurgen Klopp up and left, but this football club has a funny way of disproving doubt, and the charge was ultimately processional.

Frankly, Frankfurt were shocking defensively, inviting 18 shots and 14 on target. Liverpool amassed an xG (expected goals) total of 3.26.

The club-record signing, Alexander Isak, might have been withdrawn at half-time, having still not hit his stride after that contentious summer move, but Hugo Ekitike continues to show why he has been one of the signings of the season – and that’s accounting for all teams across Europe.

Hugo Ekitike's prolific start to the season

Ekitike, 23, joined Liverpool from Frankfurt this summer, choosing the Reds over Newcastle United. An initial fee of £69m was chequed over to the Germans, with a further £10m payable through add-ons.

Liverpool have been freighted with tactical imbalances and new crises of confidence, but Ekitike has been cool and calm and clinical in the final third, with his well-taken strike against his former club, respectably not celebrating, taking his tally to six goals and one assist this year.

As per Sofascore, the France international also won five of seven contested duels at the Deutsche Bank Park, emphasising a wider level of quality. Not just a sharpshooter, he links up play, fights for loose balls, drops deep and carves openings for teammates. Ekitike is the real deal.

As content creator Asim Mahmood puts it, “Right now, he’s undroppable.”

Right you are, Asim. But Ekitike isn’t the only one, with one of the club’s longest-serving stars proving he’s still got a few tricks up his sleeve.

Liverpool veteran is now as undroppable as Ekitike

In his post-match interview, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk baulked at the suggestion he was relieved after turning around this tough run of losses. He has, after all, been in this game a long time.

And so has Andy Robertson, who for many years ran up Liverpool’s left line as a turbo-charged creative force, whipping in crosses and beating his man with blistering speed and neat dribbling.

Robertson has known criticism, these past 14 months or so. The 31-year-old no longer brings such energy and snap to his game, and has been somewhat remodelled into a less mobile full-back. His technical quality remains, though.

And against Frankfurt, this was on full show. You will have seen Ekitike’s opening goal, the deftness and composure to angle inward when played through and dispatch into the net. It was Robertson, though, who saw the opening and played a weighted pass through.

This is what he brings to the table. Sofascore also record that the Scotsman took 114 touches, attempting five crosses, making five ball recoveries, winning his one attempted tackle and making three interceptions.

Die Roten fell apart, and tougher tests will come for Slot’s side, but Robertson brings the balance, and it may well be that he has proved he is every bit as undroppable as Ekitike right now.

Milos Kerkez, of course, would have something to say about that, but Kerkez has flattered to deceive at Liverpool so far this season, and he does not look at home in the boss’s tactical system.

While the 21-year-old joined from Bournemouth for £45m and was named in the Premier League Team of the Season for 2024/25, he has not yet found his feet on Merseyside, where the spotlight shines much brighter and the calendar is more unforgiving.

He simply isn’t quite right – yet. Robertson started his first game in a month this week, and he must now retain his role. Less pacy he may be, the £160k-per-week veteran is one of the most distinguished creators in the Premier League, with his assist tally in the competition a testament to that.

The problem with Kerkez is that he’s not a natural ball technician. That is to say, to move him into a principally ball-playing role would be an erroneous move.

Correspondent David Lynch noted he is perceived to be “getting torn to shreds every week”, but that this isn’t actually the case, with the Hungarian simply misused across these opening months of the term.

Kerkez is more of a touchline full-back. He has pace and power and incisiveness, and these are faculties sure to work in his favour down the line.

But we are not yet down the line. Liverpool are at the beginning of a transition, and Slot, for all his brilliance, has yet to crack the wider tactical nut.

Wednesday’s win was a step in the right direction, but Robertson dangled among the bunch of keys to victory; he added balance and coherence and stability down Liverpool’s left side.

The vice-captain simply “has to be in the line-up at Brentford”, according to The Athletic’s James Pearce, and this is a sentiment many would share after the events of recent weeks.

If Liverpool fail to pass the Gtech test – a stadium they have won at twice in a row – questions will be thrown back at Slot’s presser table. If the elusive synergy is to be captured and contained within Liverpool’s tactical make-up, players like Robertson and Ekitike have to reprise their starting roles.

Mac Allister upgrade: Liverpool preparing huge offer to sign £69m "monster"

Arne Slot’s Liverpool midfield is malfunctioning this season.

1

By
Angus Sinclair

Oct 21, 2025

Neymar was left in utter shock during Santos' 3-2 defeat to Flamengo as his teammates appeared to completely ignore his instructions in a bizarre second-half moment that summed up the club’s chaotic season. The veteran forward, visibly frustrated, later stormed off after being substituted, capping off a night of confusion and controversy for the struggling Brazilian giants.

• Neymar left completely ignored by Santos team-mates

  The strange incident unfolded in the 66th minute of Santos' clash with Flamengo at the Maracana, as Neymar's frustrations boiled over. With his side trailing 2-0, the 33-year-old forward demanded that Santos abandon their ineffective long-ball approach and instead play short, controlled passes out from the back. When his request was ignored, Neymar – normally stationed in attack – dropped deep to take the goal kick himself, attempting to initiate the build-up play he wanted to see.

  But his efforts quickly went unrewarded as moments later, centre-back Luan Peres launched another long ball straight up the field, which was easily intercepted by Flamengo and handed possession right back to the home side. Neymar could be seen stopping in his tracks, arms raised in exasperation, before shaking his head in disbelief.

  The moment perfectly encapsulated the disconnect between Neymar and his team-mates during a season of turmoil at Vila Belmiro. For a player who rose through the ranks at Santos and then built his career on creative, possession-based football at Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, the lack of tactical cohesion since his return has been glaring. The clip's viral spread online – with fans calling it "the most Neymar thing ever" – only intensified scrutiny on the team's communication and morale.

Advertisement

• Video shows Neymar's tactical demand being blanked..

• Neymar throws tantrum after substitution

  Later in the game, Neymar was substituted by head coach Juan Pablo Vojvoda, an act that only deepened his frustration. With Santos trailing 3-0 in the 85th minute, Vojvoda replaced Neymar with Argentine midfielder Benjamin Rollheiser. Cameras caught the 33-year-old visibly questioning the decision, mouthing, "Are you going to take me out?" toward the bench before walking straight off the pitch and heading to the dressing room without waiting for the final whistle.

  Santos went on to score two late consolation goals but ultimately fell short, losing 3-2, a result that kept them mired in the relegation zone with only six matches remaining in the season. In his post-match comments, coach Vojvoda sought to downplay the tension, insisting Neymar's reaction was "normal for a player who wants to help the team". Yet the Brazilian's departure highlighted growing frustration within the Santos camp, as the club continues to battle relegation. The loss to Flamengo kept them two points adrift of safety with just 33 points from 32 games, leaving the eight-time Brazilian champions in real danger of dropping to Serie B.

  Neymar's personal struggles have mirrored those of the club. After returning to Santos from Al-Hilal in January, he has managed just three goals and six assists in 15 appearances amid recurring injury setbacks.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• getty
  

  What does this mean for Neymar's World Cup dreams?

  Neymar's uncertain situation at Santos is drawing attention from across the football world. Club president Marcelo Teixeira confirmed that contract renewal talks are ongoing but admitted financial limitations could force a separation at the end of the year. "Santos has a limit," he told . "Neymar's project is the 2026 World Cup. If we find common ground, his continuity will be confirmed."

  That World Cup dream remains central to Neymar's career decisions. Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has not selected him since taking charge in mid-2025, citing the forward's lack of fitness and intensity. The former Real Madrid coach suggested Neymar's future lies in a more central role: "I think he needs to play more centrally, not as a winger, because wingers in today's football need to work defensively as well."

Two-time Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom is working toward a comeback in 2025.

The Texas Rangers ace was perfect in two innings of work during his spring training debut Saturday in an exhibition against the Kansas City Royals. He fanned Bobby Witt Jr. and Kyle Isbel in the first inning, and notched another strikeout in the second inning against Tyler Gentry.

In all, deGrom threw 31 pitches—21 for strikes—and averaged 97 mph on his four-seam fastball.

deGrom, the back-to-back NL Cy Young award winner in 2018 and '19, has logged just nine starts since signing a five-year deal worth $185 million with the Rangers in December 2022. He underwent Tommy John surgery in June 2023 and made his return to the mound in September.

deGrom is expected to pitch in the back of the Rangers' rotation that features Nathan Eovaldi, Jon Gray and Tyler Mahle.

Chelsea secured the Europa Conference League title last night, becoming the first side to win such a title alongside the Europa League and the Champions League.

Enzo Maresca’s side produced a stunning second-half comeback after being a goal down against Real Betis at the break, ending the game as 4-1 victors in Wrocław.

Goals from Enzo Fernández, Nicolas Jackson, Jadon Sancho and Moises Caicedo secured the triumph for the Blues, topping off what has been an excellent few weeks.

Such a result saw the Italian claim his first trophy after taking the reins last summer, looking to build on such success throughout the 2025/26 campaign.

However, despite the inspirational second-half comeback, numerous players failed to deliver in the European final, putting their place at Stamford Bridge at huge risk.

Chelsea’s poor performers against Real Betis

Winger Noni Madueke once again started for Chelsea last night, but the Englishman was unable to produce a performance to remember – often failing to deliver in the final third.

The 23-year-old only completed 50% of his dribbles and was unable to complete a single cross, with the attacker’s showing in Poland one to forget.

He wasn’t alone in struggling to perform, with right-back Malo Gusto also producing a disastrous showing, subsequently being replaced at the break by Reece James.

The Frenchman had to play in an inverted role, but made a mistake that led to the Spanish side’s opener, whilst failing to win a single one of the tackles he entered.

However, despite the showing from the aforementioned duo, one other first team member failed to deliver in the final, with his outing last night needing to be his last one for the Blues.

The Chelsea dud who must never play for the club again

Despite such a triumph, this summer promises to be a huge one for Chelsea, with incomings and outgoings to be expected at Stamford Bridge over the coming months.

Maresca has some huge decisions to make, including whether to make Jadon Sancho’s deal permanent or pay a £5m fee to send him back to Manchester United.

As for incomings, the likes of Liam Delap, Hugo Ekitiké and Joao Pedro have all been touted with moves to join the Blues, with the manager evidently targeting reinforcements in the final third.

However, regardless of what deals he decides to pursue or approve, he needs to offload centre-back Benoit Badiashile and allow the defender to move on to pastures new.

He joined the club in a £35m deal from Monaco back in 2023, making 53 appearances, with the majority of his showings this season coming in the Conference League.

The 24-year-old started the final against Betis, featuring for 61 minutes before being replaced by academy graduate Levi Colwill, highlighting his lack of impact.

He may have registered 92 touches, but he was disappointing without the ball, losing 100% of the tackles he entered and committing a foul which led to him being carded.

Badiashile also only made one interception and failed to come out on top in any aerial duels, struggling to produce a display worthy of a European Cup final.

As a result of his showing against the Spanish outfit, he was handed a measly 4/10 match rating by The Standard’s Malik Ouzia – showcasing his lack of positive impact.

With the summer transfer window now just around the corner, it would be a surprise to no one if Badiashile was offloaded during the off-season, ending his spell in West London.

He demonstrated last night that he’s unable to deliver in key moments, with Maresca needing to cut his losses and sell him to allow for added investment in key areas this summer.

Forget Jackson: Maresca has found the new Drogba in 9/10 Chelsea star

Chelsea came from behind to beat Real Betis 4-1 in the Conference League final on Wednesday night

3

By
Joe Nuttall

May 29, 2025

Manchester United are thought to be eyeing a “fantastic” Premier League player as a replacement for Bruno Fernandes, should the captain leave this summer.

Man Utd desperate to keep hold of Bruno

There hasn’t been much to admire about the Red Devils’ season, with Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at home to West Ham embarrassingly leaving them languishing in 16th place in the Premier League table.

Fernandes has been a shining light for United, however, especially as the campaign has gone on, scoring 19 goals and registering 16 assists in all competitions. He has dragged his side through some games, especially in Europe, with his leadership arguably coming to the fore more impressively than it has in the past.

The Portuguese has worryingly been linked with a move away from Old Trafford this summer, however, which would be a massive blow for Ruben Amorim, who lauded him recently, saying: “When we need him, he’s always there. He can change position. He can bring the ball forward. He can score goals. He can make transitions like he showed today.”

Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal have been mentioned as potential suitors for the 30-year-old, but it would surely be a surprise if he was willing to play at such a lower standard at this peak moment in his career. Still, United will know that they need to keep an eye on possible replacements, should the worst-case scenario happen.

Man Utd eyeing move for "fantastic" Premier League ace

According to a report from Spain, Manchester United have identified Aston Villa midfielder Youri Tielemans as an option to come in for Fernandes this summer. The £150,000-a-week Belgian has stood out as one of Villa’s best players this season, helping them reach the Champions League quarter-finals.

He isn’t the only player mentioned in the update, however, with Newcastle United star Bruno Guimaraes also mentioned as a possible addition for the Red Devils, and an alternative to the Villans ace.

In an ideal world, Fernandes will remain at United for the foreseeable future, ignoring any interest in him, but the Red Devils should still contemplate the signing of Tielemans to make their midfield more formidable.

Man Utd's £85k-per-week flop is quickly becoming their new Martial

Manchester United may have found their new Anthony Martial this season.

2

By
Matt Dawson

May 12, 2025

The 28-year-old has now proven himself as a top player in the Premier League, making 218 appearances in the competition and also scoring the winning goal for Leicester City in the 2021 FA Cup final against Chelsea, while Unai Emery has lauded his abilities as a footballer.

Tielemans would add box-to-box quality to United’s midfield, having the ability to supply end product and also strong defensive work, having bagged 10 goal contributions in the league this season and also averaged 2.4 tackles per game.

Leeds United have been given a boost in their attempts to sign an up and coming young striker who has been compared to Wayne Rooney.

Leeds transfer rumours ramp up ahead of Premier League return

The 49ers Enterprises and Daniel Farke are preparing for Leeds’ return to the Premier League following a hugely successful Championship campaign which saw the Whites win the title with 100 points.

Premier League football will result in more money being available for Leeds, and chairman Paraag Marathe has admitted the club will splash all the cash that they are allowed on new signings.

He'd be amazing with Tanaka: Leeds plot move for "unbelievable" £12m star

Leeds United are preparing a move to land a star who would be perfect alongside Ao Tanaka.

By
Ethan Lamb

May 14, 2025

“Whatever they will let us spend, we’ll spend. I can comfortably say that we are going to spend the very last penny that we can. It’s what we need to go full tilt for the next three years.

“I’m under no illusions that it’s going to be easy… there’s an argument to be made that there’s a widening gap [between the Premier League and the Championship]. With all due respect to the other clubs, I think we’re different. We have an opportunity and we have scale that nobody else has.”

Adam Underwood is the new Leeds sporting director, whereas Robbie Evans has been promoted to managing director, and it is shaping up to be a busy first transfer market for the pair.

A number of players have been linked with moves to Elland Road, including Man City attacking midfielder James McAtee, Bologna defender Jhon Lucumi and San Lorenzo goalkeeper Orlando Gill.

A centre-forward addition to rival the likes of Championship Golden Boot winner Joel Piroe, Mateo Joseph and Patrick Bamford is also on the cards, with Besiktas centre-forward Semih Kılıçsoy of interest.

Leeds are preparing to move for the highly-rated teenager in the coming days, according to recent reports, and a promising new development has emerged.

Leeds given boost in race to sign Semih Kılıçsoy on loan from Besiktas

According to a fresh report from Turkey, relayed by Sport Witness, Besiktas have decided that Kılıçsoy can be loaned out for the 2025/26 season following talks between president Serdal Adalı, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and scouting director Eduard Graf.

Leeds are looking at a temporary deal for Kılıçsoy, so this will come as welcome news for the 49ers, Farke and Underwood. Compared to Rooney by analyst Ben Mattinson due to his “short, stocky build, powerful ball-striking and intelligent link-up play”, Kılıçsoy is under contract with the Super Lig side until 2028.

Capable of playing as a centre-forward or on either wing, Kılıçsoy would offer a versatile attacking option for Farke and one who has made over 40 appearances in all competitions in 2024/25, scoring four goals and registering six assists.

In search of boosting their frontline once again, Chelsea chiefs are now reportedly ready to match the £60m asking price of one impressive forward having already made their first approach for his signature.

Chelsea's UCL push going down to the wire

Whilst there would have been plenty of relief around Nottingham Forest’s 2-0 defeat at the hands of Brentford in midweek, Chelsea still have it all to do in the race to secure Champions League qualification. Sat fifth on goal difference and in the last remaining Champions League spot, the Blues may need to win all four of their remaining games to finish above the chasing pack of Forest and Aston Villa.

With Premier League champions Liverpool to face this weekend too, it doesn’t get any easier for Chelsea who may be hoping to come up against a side in celebration rather than the ruthless Reds that English football has become accustomed to this season.

Blues boss Enzo Maresca recently had his say on the Champions League race, telling reporters: “How many times in the last two years has Chelsea been in the Champions League [places]? Zero.

“How many times this season? Almost all season. It is an improvement or not? It is already an improvement because we spend all season there. Now, we are going to try our best to finish there no doubt.

109 touches, 98% passing: Chelsea may have found a bigger star than George

Chelsea now have one foot in the Europa Conference League final after a 4-1 win over Djurgården last night.

1

By
Ethan Lamb

May 2, 2025

“We want to finish there, no doubt. We are happy to finish there, yes. Is it enough? No, because we want to compete for titles. But compared to the past two years, I think it is quite clear that there is an improvement. Now, if you want to see it, you see it. If you don’t want to see it, you don’t see it. It depends which way. I see it.”

Meanwhile, should the London club go on and confirm their place among Europe’s elite this month, they could be well placed to welcome an impressive Premier League rival.

Chelsea ready to meet Watkins price tag

According to Football Transfers, Chelsea are now ready to match Ollie Watkins’ £60m valuation to welcome the Aston Villa striker this summer, having already made their first approach for his signature.

Watkins was, of course, at the centre of attention in January when Arsenal came calling. Unlike Chelsea, however, the Gunners were reluctant to meet Villa’s asking price and the England international therefore stayed put in the Midlands.

At 29 years old, the Villa star goes against BlueCo’s usual transfer route of young stars, but an established Premier League goalscorer could be exactly what Maresca’s side need if they are to improve this summer.

Dubbed “amazing” by Villa boss Unai Emery earlier this season, Watkins’ numbers compared to Nicolas Jackson highlight the upgrade that he would instantly offer Chelsea and Maresca.

Aston Villa have made contact over the signing of an attacking player who is enjoying a superb return to form this season, according to a new transfer update.

Aston Villa eye signings after Champions League exit

Unai Emery’s team produced a brave performance at home to Paris Saint-Germain in midweek, beating the Ligue 1 champions 3-2 but crashing out of the Champions League on aggregate at the quarter-final stage.

It was another sign of the strides that this team had made under Emery, and while going out of Europe was hard to take, it shows that they are capable of holding their own against the best teams. Now, it’s a case of knuckling down in the Premier League and ensuring that they are back dining at the top table next season.

In terms of Villans transfer news, Club Brugge centre-back Joel Ordonez has emerged as a target, following an impressive campaign for the Belgian giants. He made 12 appearances in the Champions League, completing 90.9% of his passes and standing out as one of the best young ball-playing defenders in Europe.

Rosenborg teenager Sverre Nypan is another rumoured target for Villa, having caught the eye with his performances at the heart of his side’s midfield. He would be considered one for the future, but a hugely exciting option nonetheless.

Aston Villa enquire over £44.5m Moise Kean deal

According to Tuttomercato journalist Marco Conterio [via Sport Witness], Aston Villa have “already made enquiries” about signing Fiorentina attacker Moise Kean this summer.

The 25-year-old has a £44.5m release clause that is only valid between July 1st and July 15th this summer, so the Villans will need to act fast when that time arrives, with West Ham also credited with interest.

Kean is a player who has really kicked on over the past 12 months or so, enjoying a brilliant season for Fiorentina and threatening to reach his potential. The Italian has scored 17 goals in Serie A, which is three more than Ollie Watkins has managed in the Premier League, as well as netting once for Italy in the UEFA Nations League.

Kean has experience of the Premier League, which may be seen as an added bonus for Emery, admittedly only scoring twice in 32 appearances in the competition, but he has matured as a player since then.

Aston Villa racing to sign "complete" £39m defender with shades of Rudiger

The Villans are set to battle it out for a centre-back…

By
Dominic Lund

Apr 18, 2025

For that reason, he could be an excellent addition for Villans, coming into his prime years and showing that he can score regularly in one of Europe’s top leagues.

With Watkins turning 30 this year and Marcus Rashford not certain to join permanently, the Midlands outfit should look to snap him up.