Wolverhampton Wanderers are set to make an offer for a “sensational” forward, who is also on the radar of Real Madrid and Barcelona, according to reports.
Wolves looking to sign new forwards
In light of Matheus Cunha’s departure, Wolves have been able to splash the cash on new forwards this summer, having already secured the signature of Fer Lopez, and they are now closing in on a deal for another winger.
Such is the Colombia international’s level of interest in moving to Molineux, he is reportedly willing to take a pay cut to get a deal over the line, and with Fabrizio Romano giving his trademark ‘here we go’, the move could be wrapped up soon.
However, Wolves aren’t done there, as they are also set to make an offer for another winger, namely Real Betis’ Pablo Garcia, according to a report from Estadio Deportivo (via Sport Witness).
Wolves now ready to make formal bid for "complete" £13m ace alongside Arias
The Old Gold are set to make an official offer in the coming days…
ByDominic Lund Jul 15, 2025
The Old Gold have been closely monitoring Garcia in recent weeks, and they are now determined to secure his signature, with Real Betis’ €30m (£26m) asking price deemed to be a non-issue.
Real Betis'PabloGarciacelebrates after the match
The 19-year-old has particularly impressed at the U19 Euros, recently netting four goals in Spain’s 6-5 victory over Germany, and his performances haven’t gone unnoticed, with reports from elsewhere revealing that Real Madrid and Barcelona have also expressed an interest.
"Sensational" Garcia could be exciting signing for Wolves
It would be a real statement of intent if Vitor Pereira’s side were able to secure the teenager’s signature, given his performances at the U19 Euros, with scout/analyst Jacek Kulig lauding the youngster for a “sensational” display against Germany.
The Sevilla-born winger was regularly among the goals at youth level last season, picking up five goals and four assists in 25 games for Real Betis reserves, while also providing four goal contributions in as many games in the UEFA Youth League.
As such, while Garcia’s first-team experience is very limited, there are clear signs the starlet could go on to be a top player, so he could be a real coup for Wolves this summer.
Southampton are now plotting a move for a “really exciting” midfielder, who could jump at a move to St. Mary’s this summer, according to a report.
Still looking to build promotion-winning squad
In his first season as Saints manager, Will Still’s aim will undoubtedly be to return to the Premier League at the first opportunity, and Tony Pulis has insisted that nothing but an immediate return to the top flight will be deemed good enough next season.
Pulis said: “He will have the opportunity and the chance to definitely be successful in his first year and success there is promotion, nothing less than promotion.”
As such, Still has set out to build a promotion-winning squad, with Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg revealing the negotiations over a deal for FC Köln striker Damion Downs are now at an advanced stage, as the centre-forward has emerged as a top target for the Championship promotion-hopefuls.
Newly appointed Southampton manager WillStillin the stands
Having a reliable goalscorer is, of course, a major factor in any side’s success, but it is equally important to have players capable of creating chances, and Still’s side have now set their sights on a new midfielder.
That is according to a report from Football League World, which states Southampton are now plotting a move for RB Salzburg maestro Bobby Clark, who joined the Austrian side from Liverpool for a fee of £10m last summer.
Bobby Clark
However, the move to Austria hasn’t panned out how Clark would’ve hoped, having recently been left out of the squad for the Club World Cup, meaning he could jump at the opportunity to move to St. Mary’s this summer.
Speaking about why the midfielder was left out of the squad entirely, RB Salzburg manager Thomas Letsch said: “I decided on other players. I wasn’t satisfied with Bobby’s training week and therefore told him he wasn’t in the squad.”
"Really exciting" Clark could reignite his career at St. Mary's
There may be some concerns over the fact the 20-year-old hasn’t been training well at Salzburg, but there are signs he could reignite his career at St. Mary’s, having previously displayed some promising signs at some of England’s top clubs.
During his time as a Newcastle United youth player, the starlet was lauded by reporter Lee Ryder, who said: “Bobby was Newcastle’s most promising youngster. He is a really exciting player with bags of skill and talent.”
Same agent as Downes: Southampton in "advanced" deal talks for "top" star
Southampton are now moving closer to signing a new striker this summer.
ByBrett Worthington Jun 30, 2025
The Newcastle-born starlet then decided to move to Liverpool, where he went on to put in some impressive performances at youth level, despite never quite making the grade as a first-team player, picking up 11 goal contributions in 37 games for the U21 side.
At this stage of his career, a move to a promotion-chasing Championship side could be ideal for Clark, and his exploits at youth level indicate that he could be a solid signing for Southampton, capable of setting up chances for Downs.
Manchester United could now be offered the chance to sign a Brazil international midfielder in exchange for Jadon Sancho, according to a new report.
Man Utd make moves to replace Ten Hag's flops
Since the 2024/25 season came to an end, there has been a lot of talk about the future of many players at Old Trafford, with goalkeeper Andre Onana one of those whose future has come under serious scrutiny.
A very up-and-down season which saw Onana make several mistakes in the Premier League and Europa League has now seen him be linked with a move away this summer. At the end of last week, it was reported that AS Monaco are interested in signing Onana from United, but the Cameroon international is said to be keen on remaining at Old Trafford and proving his worth.
While that may be the case for Onana himself, United are already working behind the scenes to look at players who could potentially replace him. Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez is said to be keen on the idea of joining the Red Devils and prefers that move over joining Barcelona in this transfer window.
Man Utd submit £13m bid to sign "great" Real Madrid player and get reply
The Red Devils are still looking to replace Onana.
1 ByTom Cunningham Jun 23, 2025
However, United have their eye on another goalkeeper, as according to a report from Spain, United have submitted a bid worth £13 million to sign Andriy Lunin from Real Madrid. The Spanish giants have rejected that offer, but a deal is there to be done for United, should they improve their bid.
Man Utd offered chance to sign Douglas Luiz
In other news at Old Trafford, according to Gazzetta dello Sport’s Giovanni Albanese, relayed by Sport Witness, Man United could have the opportunity to sign Douglas Luiz in a deal that would see Sancho join Juventus.
Douglas Luiz in action for Juventus.
The Serie A side were keen on signing Sancho last summer, and the link between the club and player hasn’t broken since then. Juventus have been in talks with Sancho’s entourage over a transfer, and their general manager Damien Comolli is now looking at ways of adding a player into the deal so it can be completed.
This is where Luiz comes into the mix, as the midfielder, who has struggled since joining the Turin giants, could be a player United are willing to take in exchange for getting rid of Sancho. Luiz, who has been dubbed “world-class” by former teammate John McGinn in the past, played just 19 games in Serie A last season, three of which only came as a starter.
Apps
175
Goals
20
Assists
18
However, during his time in the Premier League, the Brazilian was a consistent presence in the midfield for Aston Villa. In the 2023/24 season, Luiz scored an impressive nine goals and recorded five assists, which helped him secure his move to Juventus.
But given how things have gone in Italy, a move back to England could be on the cards, and given Juventus value Luiz at £30 million, United may be willing to snap their hands off for this type of transfer.
Whilst the focus has been on upgrading Ruben Amorim’s attacking options so far this summer, Manchester United have now reportedly joined the race to sign a £30m+ midfielder.
Man Utd face toughest Premier League start
After finishing 15th in a miserable campaign last time out, the last thing that Manchester United need is to be thrown into the deep end in the opening weeks of next season. Yet, with the 2025/26 Premier League fixtures released, Amorim is set to find out very quickly whether his side can finally swim or if they’ll sink once again under pressure.
After opening their campaign with the visit of Arsenal, Manchester United will then be forced to navigate a nine-game period which features games against Manchester City, Chelsea and champions Liverpool. If they were looking to ease their way into the season then, simply put, they may have to rethink their approach.
Of course, by the time that August arrives, those at Old Trafford will hope to have built a squad capable of navigating that difficult opening run. Already, INEOS have secured the arrival of Matheus Cunha and reports have claimed that they’re also confident about signing Bryan Mbeumo despite competition from Thomas Frank’s Tottenham Hotspur.
Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo
Both additions would go a long way towards transforming Manchester United’s attack, but Amorim will be well aware that his midfield also needs fixing. On that front, once again it seems as though INEOS are prepared to spend amid reports that United have joined the race to sign a want-away Serie A midfield this summer.
Man Utd battling to sign Davide Frattesi
According to reports in Spain, Manchester United are now battling to sign Davide Frattesi from Inter Milan this summer. The Italian giants reportedly value their midfielder at more than €35m (£30m) in what is an affordable price tag for INEOS to match in the coming months.
What should make any deal easier, meanwhile, is reports that Frattesi has expressed his desire to leave Inter this summer after starting just nine Serie A games last season. Whether that opens the door for the Red Devils to secure a cheaper deal is a question that Sir Jim Ratcliffe is likely to ask if Manchester United push on with their move to sign the midfielder.
Minutes
1,158
1,494
Progressive Carries
1.78
0.24
Tackles Won
0.62
0.31
Goals (total)
5
1
Described as “brilliant” by scout Antonio Mango, Frattesi would hand Manchester United another added boost going forward. The midfielder also has a knack for scoring goals in big games, having scored the winner against Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-final and then the winner again in extra-time in the semi-final against Barcelona.
Amorim's next Amad: Wilcox considering Man Utd bid for "special" £38m star
Manchester United could be about to land a star who can emulate Amad Diallo’s success.
1 ByEthan Lamb Jun 18, 2025
For around £30m, Frattesi could prove to be quite the bargain for Manchester United, who would be landing an underrated midfielder with plenty of experience, including currently at the FIFA Club World Cup.
Glasgow Rangers head coach Russell Martin knows that he has an incredibly difficult job ahead of him, as the club have failed to win the Scottish Premiership title in each of the last four seasons.
The Light Blues also failed to win any trophies in the 2024/25 campaign under Philippe Clement or Barry Ferguson, which means that the former Scotland international is tasked with bringing glory back to Ibrox.
Martin may have to do that whilst dealing with some of his key players moving on from the club, though, as multiple stars have been linked with exits from Glasgow.
Both Nicolas Raskin and Mohamed Diomande are reportedly being eyed up by teams in England this summer, which puts them at risk of being sold in the coming months.
This means that Martin could need to bring in new midfielders to lead the team forward, if Raskin and Diomande move on this summer, and the domestic market could be the way to go, as it has produced some terrific signings, such as Glen Kamara.
Rangers hit the jackpot with Glen Kamara
The Light Blues swooped to sign the central midfielder for £50k at the start of 2019, before his contract at Dundee expired that summer, in what turned out to be a bargain move by the club.
Glasgow Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara.
In fact, the £50k that the Scottish giants paid for the Finland international was later described as the “steal of the century” by former Rangers midfielder and Kamara’s teammate Scott Arfield.
The Gers hit the jackpot with the midfield maestro because they snapped him up from a Premiership team and he hit the ground running as a player who did not need time to adapt to the league.
Kamara went on to play 193 times in all competitions for the Scottish giants, winning the Premiership in the 2020/21 campaign, and his value soared during his time at Ibrox.
January 2019
Reported £50k move to Rangers
August 2019
£720k
February 2020
£1.3m
January 2021
£3.8m
May 2021
£5m
June 2022
£6.3m
March 2023
£5m
August 2023
Reported £5m move to Leeds
As you can see in the table above, his value had risen from £50k to £5m by the time he left to join Leeds in the summer of 2023, which shows that the Gers hit the jackpot with the Finnish star.
New Rangers boss Russell Martin could, now, land his own version of Kamara amid reported interest in a midfielder from another Premiership side.
Rangers eyeing deal for Premiership midfielder
According to SportsBoom, Rangers have ‘quietly explored’ what it would take to secure a deal to sign Motherwell central midfielder Lennon Miller in the summer transfer window.
The report claims that Celtic and the Gers are both keen on snapping up the Scotland international to bolster their options in the middleof the park ahead of next season.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
It adds, however, that Premier League side Sunderland are preparing an offer of £10m to sign the 18-year-old talent, after they sold Jobe Bellingham to Borussia Dortmund this week.
The outlet claims that Celtic and Rangers have both been watching the teenage Premiership starlet, but the Black Cats are quietly confident that they can get a deal done for the Motherwell talent.
Martin and Kevin Thelwell must work hard to convince Miller to remain in Scotland and make the move to Ibrox, over joining Sunderland, as he could be the new manager’s own Kamara signing.
Why Lennon Miller could be Russell Martin's own Glen Kamara
The teenage talent would come in as a similar signing to Kamara as a player who has already proven himself as a central midfielder in the Premiership.
He has already racked up 76 first-team appearances for Motherwell by the age of 18 and showcased his quality on a regular basis in the top-flight, even producing an exceptional assist against Celtic in the clip below.
This means that the 18-year-old star could come in to hit the ground running at Ibrox, given his knowledge of the league, which was also the case for Kamara after he joined from Dundee.
Miller, who has been hailed as “ridiculous” by James McFadden, is also similar to the Finland international when it comes to the strength and athleticism that he provides out of possession.
Former Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara.
Kamara won 59% of his duels and made 6.09 ball recoveries per 90 in the 2020/21 title-winning season, which shows that he was strong off the ball, and Miller displayed similar qualities in the 2024/25 campaign for his current club.
Tackle success rate
68%
Top 28%
Duels won
5.84
Top 36%
Duel success rate
53%
Top 31%
Interceptions
1.38
Top 14%
Ball recoveries
6.52
Top 10%
Blocks
0.48
Top 28%
As you can see in the table above, the Scotland international ranked incredibly highly among midfielders in the division in a host of key defensive metrics, including his duel success rate and ball recoveries per 90.
Like Kamara, Miller is a central midfielder who puts him about the park to win possession back for his side on a regular basis, but the Scottish ace also has the quality to provide goals and assists.
The £10m-rated dynamo ended the season with two goals, 12 ‘big chances’ created, and eight assists in the Premiership, whilst Kamara never managed more than four assists in a single league season.
This suggests that Miller could bring the physicality that the Finnish ace brought to Ibrox, but with more quality in possession in the final third to make an impact in front of goal.
Big Danilo upgrade: Martin lines up Rangers move to sign "complete" striker
Russell Martin is eyeing up a Rangers move for a striker who would be a big upgrade on Danilo.
1 ByDan Emery Jun 9, 2025
Therefore, Martin could land his own version of Kamara, but with the potential to be even better due to his ability on the ball, by winning the race to land the Premiership starlet this summer.
As much as a collective team effort is obviously at fault for Manchester United horribly underperforming this season just gone, their woes in attack certainly stick out as a major point of concern.
Rasmus Hojlund would only manage to bag a dire four goals in Premier League action for Ruben Amorim’s Red Devils, whilst another scapegoated striker in Joshua Zirkzee also blew hot and cold throughout the campaign when tallying up just three strikes himself.
Therefore, one summer priority must surely be to bring in a fresh sharpshooter, with Ipswich Town menace Liam Delap once on United’s ever-expanding shopping list subsequently.
Unfortunately for the 15th-placed underachievers, Delap has seemingly chosen Chelsea as his next onward destination over Old Trafford, leaving Amorim’s men to hunt elsewhere.
Man Utd make approach for Premier League striker
Staggeringly, United could get over the rejection of Delap by poaching one of Chelsea’s main strikers.
Indeed, a new report from Football Transfers suggests that United have made an approach for hit-and-miss Blues attacker Nicolas Jackson, with Red Devils technical director Jason Wilcox allegedly playing a big part in wanting to bring the ex-Villarreal man to Old Trafford due to his desire for an athletic centre-forward.
It is also stated further into the report that Chelsea are reluctant to negotiate a sale, but if Delap were to come in and make that starting spot his own, the £55m-rated striker might be potentially more swayed to move to the Theatre of Dreams.
If everything were to click into place for the inconsistent 23-year-old in his new potential location too, he could go down as an upgrade on the much-talked-about former Manchester City ace.
Why Jackson could be an upgrade on Delap
After all, Delap might well be the talk of the town at the moment by bagging 12 league strikes last season, but he’s only ever experienced that one solitary Premier League campaign across his fledgling career.
On the contrary, Jackson has been around for one season longer in the demanding English game, and despite missing a colossal 19 big chances during an up-and-down 2024/25, the Senegalese striker found himself only two shy of the 22-year-old’s total for the Tractor Boys with ten league goals.
Games played
35
30
Goals scored
14
10
Assists
5
5
Shots*
2.3
2.5
Shots on target*
1.4
1.2
Goal conversion %
18%
13%
Big chances missed
24
19
On top of that, the Blues’ number 15 also showed off his sometimes red-hot form in front of goal during his debut season, with a mightily impressive 17 goals and six assists coming his way across all competitions, away from his 13 strikes in Premier League action alone, just bettering Delap’s output.
It will just rest on whether Jackson can become even more clinical donning United red, but he would surely be chomping at the bit to prove any Stamford Bridge doubters wrong if a move is signed off on.
Nicolas Jackson
Of course, there is also surely a worry on Chelsea’s end that Delap’s heroics for Ipswich are just a lightning in a bottle moment, with the bright lights of a new West London environment perhaps working against the potent Tractor Boys number 19.
United will just be praying the “unbelievable” attacker, as he’s been labelled glowingly in the past by pundit Peter Crouch, can hit his stride making the switch up North, making their failed attempts to land the £30m target less painful in the process.
If he manages to come out of his bumpy stint at Stamford Bridge stronger for it, he could be just what United are searching forward to head into a hopeful, new era under Amorim.
Amorim's own McTominay: Man Utd make contact to sign "world-class" £50m ace
Manchester United could be about to land a star who could be the new Scott McTominay.
Newcastle United’s fantastic second half of the season ensured they will return to the Champions League in the 2025/26 campaign. Eddie Howe’s magnificent Magpies came fifth in the Premier League and managed to cling onto that final Champions League spot despite defeat on the last day of the season at home to Everton.
Since Boxing Day, the North Eastern giants looked like strong contenders for a top-five finish. They were fifth in the league just one day after Christmas, and never really looked like dropping out of that race in 2025.
With a huge season ahead, it will be an important few months for Newcastle to build a squad worthy of competing with Europe’s elite. Already, they have been linked with some elite-level players.
Newcastle’s latest summer targets
There is a report from one Spanish news outlet that links the Magpies to four players this summer. One of those includes Real Madrid attacker Rodrygo, who could be available for as little as £67m. Former Manchester City winger Ferran Torres, now at Barcelona, is also linked.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
However, one of the most concrete links for Newcastle right now comes from CaughtOffside. They suggest that the North East side are targeting a move for Paris Saint-Germain attacker Lee Kang-in. They are thought to be one side who have ‘made contact’ for the South Korean attacker.
The key phrase there is one of, because the Magpies are set to fight seven other sides across Europe. They include Spanish side Atletico Madrid and Premier League rivals Manchester United and Arsenal.
Lee Kang-in for Paris Saint-Germain
Interestingly, the Gunners were linked with Lee by The Athletic back in January, who reported his transfer fee as £36m, double what the French side paid for him. Perhaps it will be a similar fee this summer, too.
Why Lee would be a good signing
It has perhaps been a slightly frustrating season for Lee in the French capital. He has struggled for regular opportunities, given he is fighting to break into an attack that includes Ousmane Dembele, Desiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Paris St Germain'sLeeKang-in, Paris St Germain's Nuno Mendes and Paris St Germain's Achraf Hakimi
He has played 30 games in Ligue 1 in the 2024/25 campaign, scoring six goals and registering the same number of assists. Crucially, Lee has played just 1667 minutes in the top flight of France, the equivalent of just 18 full games. 12 goals and assists in 18 games is a superb return.
One of the standout features about Lee’s game is his versatility. Luis Enrique has been able to rely on him in numerous positions this season. He has played 13 times as a right-winger, 12 times as a number ten, six games as a centre-forward and even once at right-back.
If the Magpies did sign Lee this summer, they would surely hope he could have the same impact at St James’ Park that their last midfield signing from Ligue 1 has done.
Bruno Guimaraes has been a revelation in midfield since his £30m move from Olympique Lyon in 2022.
He has amassed an impressive 154 appearances in that famous black and white shirt, scoring 22 goals and registering 24 assists in that time.
At the start of his time in the North East, he said he had ambitions of becoming a “legend” at the club. After helping to deliver the Carabao Cup this season, he may well have reached that level.
Interestingly, talent scout Jacek Kulig said he believes Lee can become a “future legend” of football, further drawing parallels between the pair. If he can have any sort of similar impact on the club as Guimaraes, it would have been a successful transfer.
There are some standout underlying stats on FBref for Lee, which indicate he could become a key player for Newcastle. For example, he averages 7.69 progressive passes and 5.19 shot-creating actions per game, which rank him in the top 3% and 1% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues, respectively.
Goals and assists
0.51
96th
Key passes
3.08
99th
Progressive
7.69
97th
Shot-creating actions
5.19
99th
Progressive carries
2.91
96th
Take-ons completed
1.56
97th
The last time Newcastle bought a midfielder from Ligue 1, it turned out to be one of the best signings they have made in recent memory. They will surely hope that, if Lee joins, he can be the second coming of Guimaraes in terms of impact on the club.
At just £36m, this could be the bargain of the summer for the Magpies, if Howe and co can get this deal over the line.
Bigger talent than Delap: Newcastle set to bid for “special" £59m sensation
Newcastle are looking for a new addition to their attack
Incoming Rangers owners, the 49ers, are now plotting the statement summer signing of a “very talented” Brazilian, according to a report.
Gers stepping up summer transfer plans
There is still a lot of uncertainty at Ibrox, with the 49ers still yet to identify a permanent replacement for interim boss Barry Ferguson, although there have been some recent developments in the pursuit of a new manager, with an offer being submitted for Davide Ancelotti.
Davide Ancelotti
Should Ancelotti be appointed, the Real Madrid assistant is likely to have a big say in the Gers’ summer transfer business, but potential targets are already being identified, with recruitment chiefs looking to bring in players capable of bridging the gap to Celtic next season.
Scouts have been sent to watch Evagoras Charalambous in action for Anorthosis Famagusta, with the Light Blues keen on a new striker, while they are also expected to make a bid for Estoril defender Kevin Boma at the opposite end of the pitch.
He earns more than Diomande: Rangers must sell £2.2m flop this summer
Rangers will be keen on selling a few players this summer
ByRoss Kilvington May 12, 2025
According to a report from TEAMtalk, Rangers are also keen to bolster their options in the engine room this summer, with the 49ers now plotting the statement signing of Troyes midfielder Metinho to mark the start of a new era at Ibrox.
The central midfielder has spent part of the 2024-25 campaign on loan at FC Basel, where he has caught the eye, and there is a feeling a summer deal could be possible for the relatively low fee of £4m, or potentially even less, as his contract is due to expire next summer.
The 49ers are looking to bring in young players with high potential, who can kick on at Ibrox and be sold for a profit at some point down the line, and they believe the 22-year-old fits the bill.
"Very talented" Metinho likened to Pogba
Such is the Brazilian’s potential, he was once likened to ex-Manchester United man Paul Pogba by former Fluminense academy director Marcelo Veiga, who said: “People joke and sometimes call him Pogba due to his style, his appearance and because he plays with his head up.”
The Congo-born maestro has also impressed football talent scout Jacek Kulig, who once described him as “very talented”, and he has particularly caught the eye with his dribbling ability over the past year, while also ranking highly on some defensive metrics.
Statistic
Average per 90
Progressive carries
3.49 (99th percentile)
Successful take-ons
1.83 (98th percentile)
Interceptions
1.33 (76th percentile)
Clearances
3.16 (97th percentile)
As such, the South American is clearly a well-rounded player, who just needs to add more goals to his game to be a complete midfielder, having failed to find the back of the net this season.
Regardless, Metinho is clearly a promising midfielder, who could make an instant impact at Ibrox, so it is exciting news that Rangers could look to snap him up for a relatively low fee in the summer transfer window.
Aston Villa had an ideal chance to reach their first FA Cup final in a decade at the weekend. With Crystal Palace standing in the way, Unai Emery’s men let the occasion overawe them as the club slumped to a 3-0 defeat at Wembley.
Having been knocked out of the Champions League by PSG just 11 days prior, the FA Cup represented the last chance for the club to end a near 30-year wait for a major trophy.
Despite the result, Emery must gather his men for the crunch tie against Fulham this afternoon. A win is a must if the Midlands side wants to play in Europe’s premier club competition next term.
The Spaniard will certainly be making a change or two, especially in his attacking department…
Why Ollie Watkins should be dropped for Aston Villa
Ollie Watkins started the semi-final against Palace, yet delivered one of his poorest performances in a Villa shirt.
Ollie Watkins
In a game of such high magnitude, the striker completed only eight passes throughout the match and lost possession seven times.
He failed to even register a single shot against the Eagles, while also failing with both his dribble attempts and winning just one of his seven duels.
Goals
15
Assists
7
Goal conversion percentage
19%
Shots per game
2.3
Big chances created
6
Big chances missed
24
It was a performance that the Englishman will be keen to forget, that’s for sure. Marcus Rashford looks certain to miss the rest of the season due to a hamstring injury, otherwise, he may well have started against Palace.
This leaves the door ajar for another January signing to be unleashed against the Cottagers today – Donyell Malen.
The Aston Villa star who could replace Watkins
It’s safe to say that Malen hasn’t quite enjoyed the start to life many expected of him after his £20m move from Borussia Dortmund in the winter transfer window.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Indeed, across 14 games for the club, he has started just three times, scoring three goals in the process.
He might not start often, but Malen has recorded a goal conversion percentage of 25%, showcasing his finishing abilities.
Furthermore, he averages 1.1 shots per game as well as scoring once every 96 minutes. Perhaps he offers more coming off the bench against tired legs, but with Watkins performing so poorly last week, it is now time for Malen to shine.
When compared to peers across Europe’s big five leagues, the Dutchman ranks in the top 11% for touches inside the opposition penalty area (6.44) and in the top 1% for non-penalty goals (0.71) per 90 over the previous 365 days.
This suggests Emery must not have any reservations about unleashing him in the starting XI, that’s for sure.
Dubbed “very dangerous” and “extremely fast” by his former teammate, Mario Götze, the former Dortmund man has plenty to offer Villa over the next few weeks.
Having scored three Premier League goals since the start of April, another one or two this afternoon would help Villa get over the FA Cup disappointment and spearhead their charge towards a top-five finish.
Emery now ready to cash in on £150k-p/w ace who wants to leave Aston Villa
Unai Emery is now ready to say goodbye to an important player at Aston Villa.
Chelsea are described as the main contenders to sign a highly-rated Premier League player right now, who apparently likes the “very strong” offer presented to him by Enzo Maresca’s side during talks with his representatives.
Chelsea's transfer plans this summer amid Champions League race
The Blues are currently focused on finishing this season in strong fashion, with the prospect of Champions League football firmly on the table after last weekend’s vital 3-1 win over champions Liverpool.
Chelsea "ready to negotiate" re-signing £238k-a-week "leader", contact made
The west Londoners are exploring a “shock” move.
ByEmilio Galantini May 8, 2025
A spot in season’s draw will also play a key role in determining BlueCo’s transfer plans ahead of next season, and it is widely expected that they’ll be very active once again when the window reopens for business.
Chelsea are reportedly getting busy already, with a unique window open from June 1 to June 10, prior to their Club World Cup campaign.
Newcastle (away)
May 11th
Man United (home)
May 16th
Nottingham Forest (away)
May 25th
Maresca’s side could make full use of this opportunity to seal squad upgrades before the CWC begins, with Chelsea apparently prioritising the signing of a centre-back, winger and striker.
Defensively, uncertainty surrounds the long-term futures of Trevoh Chalobah, Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile, while some reports even suggest that Chelsea are becoming more open to selling Wesley Fofana given his injury problems.
Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, Ajax sensation Jorrel Hato, Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, Burnley ace Maxine Esteve and even former Chelsea star Antonio Rüdiger have all been mentioned as potential reinforcements for Maresca’s backline recently, but Bournemouth starlet Dean Huijsen is said to be a priority target.
Chelsea present "strong offer" to Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen
That is according to reliable Stamford Bridge reporter Simon Phillips, who reported earlier this week that Huijsen’s agent is pushing for him to join Chelsea.
The “sensational” defender, who commands a £50 million release clause, is also attracting interest from Arsenal and Liverpool after an excellent debut campaign in the Premier League.
However, Phillips has now shared another update on the 20-year-old’s future, with Chelsea presenting Huijsen a “strong offer” to join them. As things stand, the Blues are pushing much more than their rivals for his signature, and it is believed the Spain international has reacted “positively” to their proposal.
“Chelsea are the first and only suitor to officially lay down the project and package to Huijsen and his reps,” wrote Phillips.
“To date, no other suitor has gone as far as doing this. Chelsea are absolutely pushing the most right now and are feeling confident of getting their priority centre back target for the summer.
“Huijsen and his reps have reacted positively to the proposals and project, even his father who has been keen for him to join Liverpool over the other interested parties.
“The Spanish international defender will make his final decision when the season is over, but Chelsea feel they have a very strong offer and project on the table and the overall package as well as the promise of regular first-team football, can sway the decision in their favour.”
The former Juventus starlet is set to be one of the most in-demand defenders of the summer, but Chelsea appear to be making serious headway, as they look to win the highly competitive race for his signature.