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Having joined Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals, Aston Villa have now reportedly joined the Spanish giants in pursuit of a 17-year-old midfielder who’s already featured on Europe’s biggest stage.

Aston Villa set to battle Real Madrid for teenage midfielder

It wasn’t too long ago that goal-line technology was playing a part in Aston Villa’s Premier League survival. Five years on from that controversial moment, however, they’re no longer simply maintaining their top flight status, they’re also keeping hold of their place in the Champions League after thrashing Club Brugge in the last 16.

Setting up a mouth-watering tie, the Villans will now square off against one of Unai Emery’s former clubs in Paris Saint-Germain, before facing Arsenal or Real Madrid if they defy the odds by defeating the French champions.

Away from the action, meanwhile, those in the Midlands are also set to do battle against some of Europe’s best. According to The Boot Room, Aston Villa are now racing Real Madrid to sign Ayyoub Bouaddi from LOSC Lille this summer.

Aston Villa's "world-class" star is already becoming Emery's new Duran

Aston Villa may have already found their next Duran with this “world-class” ace

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By
Connor Holden

Mar 14, 2025

The central midfielder is still just 17 years old, but was handed a start against Borussia Dortmund in Lille’s last 16 second-leg. Ultimately, the teenager found himself on the losing side, but the fact that he was given the nod at such a young age highlights just how talented he is.

That talent was always going to attract the likes of Madrid and Aston Villa though, potentially leaving Bouaddi with a decision to make this summer. Whether that ends in a trip to the Midlands remains to be seen, however.

"Immense" Bouaddi would be an upgrade on McGinn

At just 17 years old, Bouaddi is one of Europe’s most promising stars and could emerge to already offer Emery an upgrade on John McGinn. Off the ball, the young Frenchman is particularly impressive, using his 6’1 frame to his advantage whilst also showing off his technical ability in possession – something Villa would have seen for themselves after sending their scouts.

Whilst it’s difficult to upgrade on the energy McGinn provides Villa, Bouaddi can do exactly that, winning more duels and tackles at a higher success rate, and should only get even stronger as edges closer and closer to the peak of his powers.

Described as a “superb” player and one with “immense physical potential” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Aston Villa should sign Bouaddi before his price skyrockets beyond their range.

Up against Real Madrid in the race to sign the French sensation, those in the Midlands can use the lure of the Premier League and Emery’s project in an attempt to land an impressive coup this summer.

Manchester United have made contact with Sporting over a deal for Viktor Gyokeres, with Ruben Amorim a big fan of the Swedish striker.

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• United contact Gyokeres through intermediaries
• Swedish striker played under Amorim at Sporting
• Red Devils looking to strengthen attack

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  United have made an initial approach for Sporting CP striker Gyokeres, according to . The Red Devils are targeting better options in attack and Gyokeres is one of the most in-demand forwards around Europe after netting 39 goals in the Primeira Liga this past season.

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  Rasmus Hojlund endured a tough second season at Old Trafford, scoring only four Premier League goals, and has been the subject of interest from Serie A giants Inter. However, United are keen on signing a new central forward whatever happens to the Dane this summer and Gyokeres, who previously played under Amorim, is one of a number of options they are said to be monitoring. Randal Kolo Muani has also been linked but recently voiced his desire to stay at Juventus.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Of the 39 goals Gyokeres bagged in Portugal's top flight during the 2024-25 campaign, 12 came as penalties. The 27-year-old has also struck 15 times on international duty with Sweden, having made his senior debut in 2019.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR GYOKERES AND MAN UTD?

  A move to United would represent a return to England for Gyokeres, whose exploits for Coventry earned him a transfer to Sporting in 2023. United, meanwhile, remain on the hunt for new additions to improve Amorim's squad after an underwhelming season.

Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee was spotted racing towards referee Anthony Taylor in fury during their Premier League clash with Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.

The spoils were shared at Old Trafford as the two rivals played out a 1-1 draw, with Declan Rice’s second-half strike cancelling out Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick just before the interval.

7 of the most heated Arsenal v Man Utd matches

Look away now, Roy Keane…

By
Tom Cunningham

Dec 4, 2024

The result was an encouraging one for the home side, who almost won it in the final moments but for an incredible stop from Gunners goalkeeper David Raya to deny Fernandes a second.

Meanwhile, the draw is another setback for Arsenal, who have now failed to win their last three games in the league, handing Liverpool a 15-point lead at the top.

Amid the latest clash at Old Trafford was a sudden flashpoint at the end of the first half, which saw Joshua Zirkzee appear intent on confronting referee Anthony Taylor.

The Red Devils had just gone 1-0 up through a Bruno Fernandes free-kick, bringing a fairly sub-par game to life with one swing of the Portuguese’s boot.

With the wind in their sails, United soon looked to break from an Arsenal corner, but the move ended with Zirkzee being left furious with the referee – with his reaction somewhat obscured on the Sky Sports coverage.

After Martin Odegaard’s corner was headed out by Victor Lindelof, the ball eventually broke to Fernandes, with Alejandro Garnacho and Zirkzee racing forward in a 2v2 attack.

But just as the Argentinian had looked to have been released down the right-hand side, with Zirkzee ahead of his man in the centre, Taylor called time on the first half.

Zirkzee could then be spotted hurtling back up the field to remonstrate with the referee, only for his captain to stop him from boiling over. But was his frustration justified?

Four added minutes were signalled just as Alejandro Garnacho was fouled by Leandro Trossard for the free-kick which gave the hosts a half-time lead.

About 45 seconds were added on top despite Fernandes’ set-piece goal coming in the 47th minute, followed by some passionate celebrations.

Therefore, there should have been more time allowed for that attack to progress – with Arsenal in danger of going two goals down in a flash.

Of course, Zirkzee would only have got himself in trouble had he reached the referee to vent his anger, so United may end up being grateful to Fernandes for preventing a more serious situation from developing.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot is reportedly driving a move to sign a star player this summer and has held talks with his representatives.

Alexander-Arnold agrees Real Madrid move as Liverpool eye replacement

Despite the Reds being on course to win the Premier League in Slot’s first season in charge at Anfield, it could still be an extremely busy summer in the transfer market.

The futures of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah have been a huge talking point in recent months, with the trio’s current deals expiring in the summer.

Real Madrid have shown a big interest in signing Alexander-Arnold, and recent claims have stated that a move to the Bernabeu is “99% done” for the right-back.

An agreement has been reached between Alexander-Arnold and Madrid, and that has been backed up by the likes of Sky Sports reporter Sacha Tavolieri and The Athletic’s David Ornstein.

Writing in his latest Sky Sports column, Tavolieri stated that an agreement between Alexander-Arnold and Madrid looks set to be a five-year deal, and that ‘nothing will be able to change the Englishman’s mind’ on staying at Anfield.

Liverpool ready to pay £60m+ for 18-goal star with same agent as Van Dijk

Liverpool are ready to push forward for an exciting addition this summer.

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Mar 24, 2025

In regards to a replacement, Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong, who has been dubbed a “monster” in the final third, has been heavily linked to become Alexander-Arnold’s replacement at Liverpool. Now, Tavolieri has shared an update on a potential deal for Frimpong which involves Slot.

Slot driving Liverpool move to sign Jeremie Frimpong

As per the same Sky Sports report, Tavolieri says that signing Frimpong remains one of Slot’s main objectives and that the Dutchman has been in direct contact with the player.

Slot is seemingly driving the move to sign the full-back as he has had a telephone call with Frimpong’s representatives and regular discussions by message. He also stated there is even the chance of a physical meeting with Slot, Frimpong and his reps in the coming weeks.

Frimpong is valued at €50m (£41.7m) by Leverkusen and it is claimed that Liverpool ‘could soon make an initial offer in this range’.

Frimpong has scored more goals and registered more assists than Alexander-Arnold in fewer minutes this season, so on paper, a move to sign the 24-year-old looks a smart one.

The former Manchester City youngster, who impressed at Celtic before joining Leverkusen, has been praised by Xabi Alonso, who said last year: “Since I got here for the first time, since the first day, Jeremie has been a key player for us and for myself.

“He’s a great guy, His personality, he brings a lot of joy to the locker room. So you need to keep him having this joy. But as well as become more mature.”

A move looks like set to be one to keep an eye on, and if Slot gets his way, Frimpong will be a Red ahead of the 2025/26 season.

Adrien Rabiot has decided to stay at Marseille after rejecting a chance to reunite with former coach Massimiliano Allegri at AC Milan.

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• Rabiot decides to stay at Marseille
• Rejected chance to play under Allegri
• Targeted as a replacement for Reijnders

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to French outlet ,  Rabiot has decided to stay at Marseille after rejecting a chance to reunite with former coach Allegri, who was recently made the coach of Milan.

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  Rabiot, who joined Juventus on a free transfer in 2019, played under Allegri when the Italian tactician managed Juventus for three seasons between 2021 and 2024. Allegri had targeted Rabiot as a replacement for Tijjani Reijnders who has joined Manchester City, and the 30-year-old recently said he was open to reuniting with his former boss.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Rabiot and Allegri won the Coppa Italian in the 2023-24 season when they defeated Atalanta 1-0 thanks to a solitary goal from Dusan Vlahovic.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MILAN AND RABIOT ?

  Milan and Allegri will now have to look elsewhere to replace Reijnders with the latest rejection from the Frenchman. Rabiot will now look forward to playing a vital part in Roberto De Zerbi's Marseille when they play in the Champions League next season.

Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has given his verdict on the Reds' £116 million capture of Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz.

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• Klopp opened up on Liverpool signing Wirtz
• Hailed his former club's transfer activities
• Kerkez set to be next through the door

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Premier League champions are on a roll in the summer transfer window as they have already completed two blockbuster signings. After securing a move for Bayer Leverkusen full-back Jeremie Frimpong, the Reds won a tough transfer battle with Bayern Munich to sign his team-mate Wirtz. Liverpool smashed the British transfer record for Wirtz as they spent a whopping £116 million ($156m).

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  Legendary former Liverpool manager Klopp has now reacted to the club signing a player of Wirtz's calibre, as he hailed the Merseyside club for their activities in the transfer market on the back of their second Premier League title success in 2024-25.

• WHAT KLOPP SAID

  Speaking to RTL/NTV, the 58-year-old said: "This is going to be absolutely fantastic, I'm sure of it. It's very hard to strengthen a team when you're champions. But Liverpool have managed it. They've signed an exceptional talent in Florian Wirtz. I'm looking forward to seeing it. It's going to be great."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

  The Reds continue to remain active in the summer window as they are now progressing towards sealing a move for Bournemouth full-back Milos Kerkez after agreeing to pay a £40 million ($54m) fee.

Chelsea took another big step towards Champions League qualification last night, with Enzo Fernández’s second-half strike securing all three points over Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge.

Enzo Maresca’s men now occupy a place in the Premier League’s top four with just eight games to go, looking to end the league season on a high alongside a potential Europa Conference League title.

Whilst it wasn’t a vintage game, a triumph over your London rivals is always a good result, with points on the board being the crucial factor at this stage of the campaign.

The Blues welcomed back numerous key players during the victory, undoubtedly boosting their credentials of returning to the biggest competition in European football.

One of which managed to impress in West London last night, finally looking back to somewhat near his best after a tricky few weeks compared to his usual high standards.

Chelsea’s star performers against Tottenham

Midfielder Moises Caicedo enjoyed another superb display at the heart of the Chelsea side, with his British-record £115m fee now looking to be a bargain.

The 23-year-old featured for the entirety of the contest, winning four tackles and nine duels – with both of his subsequent figures the highest of any player on the pitch.

Attacker Cole Palmer was recalled to the starting eleven after missing the clash with Arsenal before the international break – finally ending his unheard-of drought within the final third.

The England international had gone eight games without a goal and an assist before setting up Fernandez, who landed the match’s winning goal in the 50th minute.

However, despite the performances of the aforementioned duo, one player is undoubtedly becoming the club’s most important player, with any hopes of landing Champions League qualification falling onto his shoulders.

The Chelsea player who’s becoming their most important player

There’s no denying that over the last couple of years, Palmer has constantly been the player to deliver the goods for Chelsea, often getting the side out of various tricky scenarios.

However, his recent drought is evidence that other players need to come forward to help Maresca achieve his ambitions of leading the club back to where they belong.

Argentine midfielder Fernandez has done exactly that over the last couple of months, notching 14 goal contributions since the start of November – undoubtedly the best run of his Blues career.

Questions were raised about his talents after the hierarchy forked out £106.8m for his signature in January 2023, but his showing last night was further evidence that he was worth the big money fee.

The 24-year-old took the armband with Reece James on the bench, with his performance just that of a captain, managing to complete 91% of the passes he attempted.

Fernandez also registered 61 touches and made nine passes into the final third – looking to have a positive impact on proceedings at any given opportunity.

Defensively, the former Benfica star was just as impressive, winning 100% of the tackles he entered, whilst making one interception and four recoveries, helping the side register another clean sheet.

His goal was the cherry on the cake of a phenomenal outing, with The Express’ Alex Turk handing him a 7/10 match rating to reinforce his positive display in West London.

He’s certainly stepped up his game under Maresca in the last couple of months, with the Italian now reaping the rewards of the faith he showed in the midfielder during his tricky start to the campaign.

Such showings could prove vital between now and the end of the season, with Fernandez potentially playing a crucial role in any success the club endures between now and the end of May.

Maresca's own Drogba: Chelsea plot summer move for "phenomenal" CF

Chelsea could land a player this summer who could be their next Didier Drogba.

By
Ethan Lamb

Apr 3, 2025

Jadon Sancho has reportedly reached agreement on a salary of around €10 million as he nears a departure from Manchester United.

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• Sancho not part of Man Utd plans
• Agrees salary with Fenerbahce
• Turkish side set to make offer to Red Devils

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Sancho appears to be closing in on a move to Fenerbahce after agreeing a salary of €10 million (£8.5m) per season with Jose Mourinho's side, according to Sabah. "Serious progress" is also said to have been made in talks between the two parties as the winger heads towards the exit door at Old Trafford.

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  Fenerbahce are expected to make Manchester United an offer of around €18m (£15m) for Sancho, as reported by journalist Orazio Accomand. Sancho has also attracted interest from clubs in Serie A but Italian teams will be not be able to better the wages on offer from the Turkish side.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Sancho could become the latest player to swap the Premier League for Fenerbahce. Former United stars Sofyan Amrabat and Fred have previously made the switch, while Dusan Tadic, Edin Dzeko, Caglar Soyuncu and Allan Saint-Maximin have also played for the Turkish side.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR SANCHO?

  United will be eager to offload their unwanted stars as soon as possible, with Ruben Amorim's side due back for pre-season on July 7. The Red Devils have already added Matheus Cunha to the squad in time for the new campaign and are also hoping to land Bryan Mbeumo.

Tom Lawrence is keen on joining Wrexham this summer after his exit from Rangers, per a new report.

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• Lawrence keen on move
• Left Rangers upon contract expiry
• Wrexham have been linked

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Per the Mail, Lawrence, who is a free agent after his Rangers contract expired, is keen on a move to Wrexham, having been born in the city. He also has rival interest from the Middle East and Türkiye, but it appears he would rather join Phil Parkinson's men than head abroad.

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  Lawrence came through the ranks at United and made one first-team appearance for the club before moving on to Leicester in 2014. He had been with Rangers for three years, joining them from Derby County in 2022. He made 69 appearances for the Scottish side, primarily in attacking midfield.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Lawrence can offer cover in multiple positions and is capable of playing as a 10, on either flank, or as a central midfielder, perhaps explaining Wrexham's interest. He has also won 23 caps for Wales, scoring three international goals.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Lawrence will hope to find a club sooner rather than later, with pre-season about to get into full swing. It remains to be seen if he receives the offer he is hoping for from Wrexham.

German legend Lukas Podolski says Leroy Sane will have a stress-free life in Turkey as he will enjoy all the luxury while being a Galatasaray player.

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• Podolski reveals treatment Sane will receive in Turkey
• Told fellow German to leave his money at home
• Certain that winger will be treated luxuriously

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Sane can expect a hero's welcome in Turkey after sealing his move to Galatasaray, complete with free meals and star treatment, claims former German international Podolski. He joked that the ex-Bayern Munich winger can go anywhere without carrying money, as restaurants will roll out the red carpet for what Podolski calls Galatasaray’s "new top star."

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  Sane did not enjoy the final two years of his career at the Allianz Arena, and eventually decided that the time was right for him to take on a new challenge despite being offered a new deal. Sane appeared set to extend his contract, but caused a stir when he changed his agent and ended up agreeing to join Galatasaray. A crowd of fans met him at the airport to welcome him to Istanbul, and Podolski, who played for Galatasaray from 2015 to 2017, says he is in for even better treatment in his new city.

• WHAT LUKAS PODOLSKI SAID

  "Leroy can already prepare himself for leaving his lira at home in the safe if he wants to go out for dinner," Podolski told about his former national team colleague: "As a Gala star, he will be invited everywhere he goes. The main courses will be flying around his ears."

  The 40-year-old also claimed that Sane is the biggest arrival in the Super Lig, saying: "Leroy is definitely the king of transfers at Gala. He's not just the new top star there, but in the whole league," he said. "The fans are proud that he's now part of their club. They're grateful for that and will show him.

  "Turkey has a reputation for only being able to sign top players when their careers are coming to an end. The league needs to break free from that," he added. "The transfer of Leroy is a good start to bringing in players who still want to achieve a lot in sport – and who are capable of doing so."

  Speaking on Sane's reported wage of €12 million, which is almost thrice as much as the next-best earner in Turkey, Podolski opined: "The club has money because it sold its old training ground and has a few million left over. With the money they're currently investing in the team, the club now wants to achieve more than just winning the Super Lig. Something is developing at Galatasaray."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR LEROY SANE?

  Following Bayern's passage to the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup, Sane left the Bundesliga giants and bid goodbye to his team-mates with some warm words. He will link up with his new team-mates in Istanbul later this month for pre-season activities.