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Everton have made contact with another Premier League club over the signing of a £25m-rated youngster, according to a new transfer update.

Everton targeting attacking reinforcements

A new era is on the horizon for the Blues, with life at their new Bramley Moore Dock stadium beginning next month, hopefully heralding the beginning of a more positive period in the club’s great history.

New signings are vital if David Moyes’ Everton side are to kick on in 2025/26, however, and plenty of players are being linked with moves, including Ipswich Town winger Omari Hutchinson. It is claimed that he would love the chance to remain in the Premier League, following his relegation to the Championship back in May.

The Blues are also believed to have held talks with Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz over a summer switch to Merseyside, which could be a fantastic piece of business. The Brazilian was a huge hit at Aston Villa, so Moyes doesn’t have to worry about him adjusting to the pace and power of the Premier League.

It is clear that extra attacking quality is needed at Everton, especially following the departure of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and now a hugely talented young player has been revealed as a target.

Everton make contact for McAtee signing

According to a new report from The i Paper, there “has been dialogue” between Everton and Manchester City over a summer move for James McAtee.

The Englishman is valued at £25m and Moyes is said to be a “big admirer”, with the attacking midfielder fresh off the back of European Championship glory with England’s Under-21s.

This feels like it could be a perfect move for everyone concerned, allowing McAtee to be a regular starter away from City, and getting him off their wage bill in the process.

The 22-year-old is too talented to be warming the substitutes’ bench most weeks, and he showed his quality at the aforementioned recent Euros, scoring once and helping Lee Carsley’s side go all the way in the tournament.

Meanwhile, former Sheffeld United striker Carl Asaba has even compared him to Arsenal star Martin Odegaard, saying: “He’s a bonus player in that he plays midfield and you have an extra number in there but then he can just attack. He’s like Odegaard. You play him in midfield so he’s defending for you, he’s another body for them to try and navigate away from but he likes the ball 30 yards out because he can go past you like you’re not there.”

There are few negatives to Everton signing McAtee, with his price tag far from extortionate, and the fact that Moyes rates him highly can also only be a good thing.

Ndiaye 2.0 for Moyes: £35m star 'would love' to sign for Everton

David Moyes is looking to sign another attacking player this summer at Everton.

ByRoss Kilvington Jul 8, 2025

The City youngster would add much-needed guile in the No.10 role, scoring and creating at will, and he could grow into an elite footballer as the years pass.

Arsenal are attempting to sign another player with Brentford’s Christian Norgaard and Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera, with the Gunners reliably reported to be closing in on deals for the latter two.

Agbonlahor slams "very odd" Arsenal transfer decision as Berta agrees deal

The Gunners are shopping “at Asda”.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 27, 2025

Earlier this week, following quick-fire talks with Brentford, Arsenal agreed a fee of around £10 million, plus an additional £5 million in add-ons, to sign the Denmark international as a replacement for Thomas Partey.

Norgaard has also been allowed to undergo a medical at Arsenal before signing his contract as the north Londoners’ third signing of the summer, following the reliably reported arrivals of Martin Zubimendi and Kepa Arrizabalaga.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

Straight after sealing a move for the 31-year-old, sporting director Andrea Berta immediately began work on Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera too. Arsenal opened talks with the La Liga side over a deal for Mosquera on Thursday, and he could cost under £17 million given the player is entering the final 12 months of his contract.

The 21-year-old can play both as a right-back and centre-back, with Mosquera said to have already agreed personal terms over a switch to the Emirates Stadium. Amidst all of these negotiations, though, Berta is still trying to bring in a new striker for Mikel Arteta.

The Italian has been simultaneously laying groundwork on moves for both Sporting CP’s iktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, before deciding which transfer is most feasible for Arsenal to pull off (BBC).

News surrounding the centre-forwards has been more scarce than usual this week, thanks to Arsenal’s many other transfer deals, but an update has now come to light on their chances of signing Sesko.

Arsenal in ongoing talks for Benjamin Sesko who wants to join

As per Football Insider and journalist Pete O’Rourke, the Slovenia international wants to join Arteta’s side, and he’s posing absolutely no issues when it comes to agreeing personal terms, contrary to some reports that he wants high wages.

Arsenal remain in ongoing talks over a deal for Sesko, and negotiations are ongoing with both the player’s representatives and Leipzig themselves. O’Rourke’s sources insist that this potential move isn’t being held up by the 22-year-old’s demands, so the indication is it must be a club-to-club issue.

It’s an increasingly confusing situation, as while reports suggest Sesko has a release clause near £70 million, others state that Leipzig could still demand as much as £85 million to let their star striker leave.

He bagged 21 goals in all competitions last season, his best return to date since moving to Germany, and Sesko has been praised for his physicality in particular.

“Benjamin Šeško is among the game’s top young talents and has enormous potential to become a top player,” said former Leipzig technical director Christopher Vivell.

“He has all the qualities to do that. He’s extremely quick, has a great jump on him and is strong in the air. Benjamin is a real goalscorer, who despite his 1.95m (6’4″) is mobile and technically strong. His abilities make him a special player with a special profile.”

Everton have had a busy 2025 summer transfer window so far. David Moyes’ side are looking to build on the momentum they garnered at the back end of last season, with the dawn of a new era upon the club. They are, of course, set to move into the Hill Dickinson Stadium next season.

One of the players they are pursuing, and seem close to signing, is Fulham right-back Kenny Tete. BBC Sport report that the Toffees are ‘close to securing a deal’ to sign the Dutchman on a free transfer from the Cottagers, with his contract set to expire this summer.

Another player they are after is French striker Thierno Barry, with talks intensifying this week. The Toffees are also linked with a midfielder who could perfectly complement the centre-forward.

Everton's next target after Barry

It is looking like a deal to sign Tete is on track to be completed before long, and one that would see them sign Barry might not be too far behind. They are reportedly in talks for the Villarreal star, who has a £40m release clause.

That’s according to a recent report from The i Paper. Barry is not the only young talent the newspaper has linked the Toffees with. They have reportedly ‘registered an interest’ in signing Manchester City attacking midfielder James McAtee.

It seems like the talented young number 10 will be made available for sale this summer, and Everton could pounce as a result. The Manchester Evening News confirmed at the end of May that he is ‘set to leave’ the Etihad Stadium, and will be available for a fee of around £25m.

Everton's new look attack with Barry and McAtee

After a couple of successful seasons on loan at Sheffield United, McAtee was given a deserved chance in the City first team last season, but struggled for any real game time. However, when he did get the opportunity, he certainly left an impression, particularly on Pep Guardiola, who described him as a “special” talent.

The 22-year-old, who came through City’s esteemed academy, scored seven goals in his 27 appearances last season. However, he played just 936 minutes in all competitions, leaving him with just 10.4 full 90-minute games on average.

For the Blades during his two loan spells in 2022/23 and 2023/24, McAtee was a standout player. He played 75 games for the club, scoring 14 times and grabbing eight assists. Six of those goal involvements came in the Premier League, including a sublime strike against Brentford.

McAtee has been a creative force throughout his career, both in youth and professional football. Once described as being “simply too good” by scout Jacek Kulig, he could well be playing as a number 10 behind Barry at the Hill Dickinson Stadium if both deals get over the line, where Everton fans could see that creativity shine.

The Villarreal number 15, who is an international for France at U21 level, certainly impressed in the 2024/25 campaign for the Yellow Submarine. He scored 19 goals and grabbed four assists in 41 games.

Barry knows exactly where the back of the net is, and with McAtee’s ability to fashion chances, they could form a dangerous combination. Indeed, the stats from the Man City star’s three seasons at professional level show just how exciting he can be as an attacking midfielder.

According to Sofascore, the 22-year-old, who was born in Salford, averaged 1.8 key passes for the Blades in his first campaign. He maintained a similar level when they got promoted, playing 1.4 key passes in 2023/24, and chalking up 0.8 for City last term, without much involvement.

Goals

0.4

0.2

0.7

Assists

1.8

1.4

0.8

Big chances created

0.3

0.2

0.2

Dribbles completed

1.9

1.8

0.7

Tackles and interceptions

1.8

2

1.3

Expected goal involvements

N/A

0.24

0.38

Therefore, McAtee could make Barry completely unplayable if the pair are to unite on the Blue half of Merseyside next season. The Frenchman is clinical in front of goal, and with the creativity of the Man City youngster behind him, he could hit whole new heights.

The 22-year-old has not had much of an opportunity for City, but has shown exactly how good he can be when the chance to play has arisen. With regular football and a clinical striker ahead of him at Everton, he could excel at the Toffees.

Huge upgrade on Beto: Everton in talks to sign "elite" big-money striker

Everton will be looking for improved output in front of goal next season

ByJoe Nuttall Jun 25, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur have commenced their fifth new managerial era since 2019 with the appointment of Thomas Frank, and he could be about to wave goodbye to one player already.

Tottenham now in talks to sign "extraordinary" teen star likened to Messi

Spurs are keen on a bargain deal.

BySean Markus Clifford Jun 17, 2025

On Sunday morning, Spurs confirmed that Mathys Tel wouldn’t be going anywhere, announcing a permanent deal for the Frenchman who joins them indefinitely for a reported fee of around £30 million.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

Bayern sporting director Max Eberl stated in an interview with Abendzeitung München last week that talks were ongoing with Spurs over Tel’s future, and those negotiations reached a swift resolution over the weekend as Frank secures his first ever Tottenham signing.

While Tel is set to be a Spurs player for the foreseeable, the same cannot be said for star defender Cristian Romero, who’s a top target for Diego Simeone and Atlético Madrid this summer.

Romero has reportedly informed chairman Daniel Levy that he’d like to leave the club before September 1 (Marca), regardless of their place in the Champions League next season, and Son Heung-min could even draw the curtain on his 10-year-long stay in N17 amid interest from Saudi Arabia.

Alejo Veliz spotted at Rosario Central amid talks to leave Tottenham

According to Argentine news outlet Via Pais, young striker Alejo Veliz is yet another player who could soon leave Tottenham.

His former club, Rosario Central, recently had a loan bid rejected by the Lilywhites, but talks remain ongoing over his potential departure. Frank’s side are clear – they want to sell the 21-year-old permanently and won’t accept a temporary deal.

Interestingly, Veliz has been pictured at Rosario’s training ground in the last few days, with the club’s official account sharing images of the forward’s reunion on X.

His presence there is apparently due to an emotional connection with his former side, but it is surely no coincidence that Rosario are currently trying to negotiate Veliz’s return.

The towering forward, standing at 6 foot 2, caught Tottenham’s attention with his impressive performances in Argentina’s Primera Division. He then joined Spurs on a six-year contract in August 2023 for a fee believed to be around £13 million, but Veliz has found an opportunity to fully break into the first team.

A succession of loan spells at Sevilla and Espanyol followed, but the Argentine managed just one La Liga goal over both spells combined.

The end appears to be nigh for Veliz and his time in north London, despite some bold predictions from Spanish football experts when Spurs first signed him.

“He has a certain something that means that occasionally he’ll try things, and you’re like ‘no’, I think he could be a 16 or 17-goal [striker] this season,” said Graham Hunter to Premier Sports TV.

“Which is a big ask, I know I might be wrong, but what I see in him are the special elements about judgement, about movement, about being able to hold players off.

“Raw, raw as a farm boy – partially because he is a country boy, but they have an exciting footballer.”

Wrexham fans must have become used to their side languishing in the National League and being known as sleeping giants, with the Red Dragons stuck inside non-league’s top division for a mammoth 15 seasons, before a dramatic turnaround in fortunes came about during the 2022/23 campaign.

Now, Phil Parkinson’s team will be embarking on an unbelievable Championship adventure this coming season, with Wrexham just fresh off the wild feat of three promotions in a row to demand a seat at the esteemed second-tier table.

The ultra ambitious Welsh outfit will head into the Championship full of confidence, and rightly so, with this sky-high optimism only raised more by the potential arrival of a new striker who could go down as Wrexham’s next Paul Mullin.

Mullin has been there from the very start of the crazy journey up the leagues, with his growing collection of goals making him a firm fan favourite at the Racehorse Ground.

Mullin's remarkable journey at Wrexham

The 30-year-old joined the Wrexham ranks right as the club was about to be catapulted into stardom, with every season – bar his debut campaign – ending in the sweet glory of promotion.

Along the way, the prolific striker has bagged a jaw-dropping 105 strikes from 165 overall clashes, with the Liverpool-born centre-forward a definite member of the Red Dragons’ hall of fame.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an inevitable end, with Mullin’s waning output of just three league strikes last season meaning he could be moved on very shortly.

Wigan Athletic are allegedly interested in his services, but this potential dent to Wrexham’s squad would be immediately fixed by a brand-new goalscoring menace joining the club, someone who has displayed a similar deadliness in front of goal to Mullin during the high points of his up-and-down career.

Wrexham's "clinical" new Mullin

The much-loved 30-year-old might well be a potent hero in the lower reaches of the EFL, but it would be a tall order to expect him to light up the Championship, considering he has never plied his trade here across his extensive playing days.

On the contrary, Danny Ings has shone at the difficult level in the past, with Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph now boldly revealing that the newly promoted side are in talks with the 32-year-old over a statement deal taking place.

Before going on to be known as a Premier League-calibre striker for the likes of Southampton and West Ham United, Ings would get his first big break in the Championship with Burnley by scoring 27 of his 43 Clarets goals in the unpredictable division.

The well-travelled veteran would surely welcome a return to the level, therefore, to recapture his groove in front of goal, with the hope that he can go on to be as deadly as Mullin in his fresh location, even so deep into his career.

Burnley

130

43

14

Southampton

100

46

10

West Ham

69

5

5

Aston Villa

52

14

8

AFC Bournemouth

30

8

3

Liverpool

25

4

1

Overall number

406

120

41

After all, the table above shows off Ings’ “clinical” nature – as he was once labelled glowingly by Liverpool writer Leanne Prescott – across the myriad of clubs he has lined up for, with his weaker return of five strikes for West Ham mainly impacted by his recurring injury issues when on the books of Graham Potter’s men.

Ings going down as a success in Wales will all depend on whether the injury-prone forward can shake free of these constant trips to the treatment room.

If he can, he could become that same talismanic figure for Parkinson’s men that Mullin once was, with Wrexham already daring to dream about a Premier League stay one day.

Reynolds and McElhenney now lead race to sign 22 y/o MLS ace for Wrexham

The Welsh club are preparing for life in the Championship.

ByTom Cunningham May 28, 2025

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has now personally spoken to a £145m star about a summer move to the Emirates Stadium, according to a report.

Gunners eyeing new winger amid Martinelli criticism

There have recently been suggestions that Gabriel Martinelli may not be at the level required to take the Gunners to the next level, with journalist Kyle Bonn implying that Mikel Arteta should look to bring in a new winger in the summer transfer window.

Those thoughts may also be echoed by club legend Thierry Henry, with the Frenchman suggesting the winger still has plenty of areas in which he needs to improve after the 2-0 victory against Manchester United earlier this season.

As we approach the summer transfer window, the north Londoners have been stepping up their pursuit of a new winger, with the likes of Nico Williams and Rodrygo believed to be of interest, while they have now made contact over a deal for a different forward.

Indeed, according to a report from Foot Mercato, Arsenal have now shortlisted AC Milan’s Rafael Leao as a summer target, with Berta speaking to the Portugal international on the phone around ten days ago.

The Gunners hold a real interest in Leao, who is considering an exit this summer after a mixed campaign at the San Siro, but he is not their priority target, and they are yet to make a final decision about whether to make a move.

£359k-per-week striker would join Arsenal "immediately", Berta wants him

He’s apparently very keen.

ByEmilio Galantini May 24, 2025 "Incredible" Leao could be expensive signing for Arsenal

According to reports from Italy, Milan could hold out for as much as £145m for the Portuguese winger, so a deal is likely to be on the expensive side, but there are clear signs he could be an upgrade on Martinelli.

The 25-year-old has averaged more non-penalty goals, assists and successful take-ons than the Arsenal winger over the past year, during which time he has also been lauded as “incredible” by CBS’ Matteo Bonetti.

Statistic

Gabriel Martinelli

Rafael Leao

Non-penalty goals

0.29

0.34

Assists

0.14

0.26

Successful take-ons

1.48

2.84

While Milan have underperformed throughout the 2024-25 campaign, currently sitting in seventh place, the Almada-born winger has remained consistent in front of goal, picking up 12 goals and 13 assists in all competitions.

As such, should Arsenal decide to bring in a new winger this summer, Leao should be right near the top of the list of targets, but signing a new centre-forward is arguably more important, with Arteta being left very short on options at striker throughout the campaign.

Chelsea are now showing clear interest in signing a 20-goal South American striker this summer, and negotiations could intensify in the coming weeks, according to a report.

Jackson dismissed as Blues falter in top five push

Nicolas Jackson impressed in the early stages of the Premier League campaign, which means the 23-year-old has reached the 10-goal mark, but his performance in the important clash against Newcastle United on Sunday underlined the need to bring in a new striker.

In a game that could have huge ramifications on whether the Blues qualify for the Champions League, Jackson was sent off for an elbow on Sven Botman, leaving Enzo Maresca unhappy.

Speaking after the 2-0 defeat at St. James’ Park, Maresca said: “His season for us is finished. He is our nine, our striker, so we have to find a solution for the next games. Marc Guiu is our other striker, but he has been injured for three months.

“What you have to avoid is these kind of things, but it happened. Nico is now out for the season and hopefully he can learn for the future.”

Talks planned: Chelsea set to make contact over "unbelievable" £90m PL star

The Blues are set to hold talks over a deal for a Premier League attacker.

ByDominic Lund May 11, 2025

Jackson’s recent performance is unlikely to do the Senegalese forward in any favours this summer, given that the west Londoners were already thinking about bringing in a new striker, and a report from Spain has named Alaves’ Joaquin Panichelli as a target.

Chelsea are showing clear interest in signing Panichelli, given his impressive performances on loan at La Liga 2 side Mirandes this season, and talks could accelerate in the coming weeks, as there is growing interest in his signature.

Fellow BlueCo-owned club Strasbourg are also following the forward, alongside Wolverhampton Wanderers, with his entourage of the belief that a move to one of Europe’s top clubs is imminent.

Chelsea’s upcoming fixtures

Date

Manchester United (h)

May 16th

Nottingham Forest (a)

May 25th

Real Betis (n)

May 28th

Panichelli catching the eye in Spain

The Argentine enjoyed a very impressive 2024-25 campaign on loan at Mirandes, picking up 20 league goals, the second-highest number in the division, while also providing two assists.

Of course, it must be noted that the South American is unproven in a major league, with his recent exploits coming in the second tier of Spanish football, but his performances last season indicate he could be able to make the step-up to the Premier League soon.

As such, Panichelli could be an interesting signing for the Blues, but they must make sure to bring in a more proven striker alongside the 22-year-old, and they should be in a strong position to attract a top-level forward if they finish in the top five.

There is no shortage of options for Chelsea, with Arsenal now concerned their London rivals will hijack their move for Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres, while Maresca’s side are also ready to bid for RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.

The representative of a “complete player” is actively pushing for his client to join Chelsea, according to reports, with a deal also being worked on behind-the-scenes.

Chelsea eye new defender for Enzo Maresca this summer

While their qualification for the Champions League is set to have a big impact on their summer plans, that hasn’t stopped BlueCo from laying the groundwork for potential transfers.

£60m star tempted to re-join Chelsea as BlueCo eye potential reunion

The ex-Blue is contemplating a return to Stamford Bridge.

ByEmilio Galantini May 6, 2025

Chelsea are competing in the Club World Cup this summer as well, and will have the chance to sign new players before the tournament kicks off, thanks to a special edition window, which will be open from June 1st to June 10th.

Newcastle (away)

May 11th

Man United (home)

May 16th

Nottingham Forest (away)

May 25th

The first window is therefore just weeks away from opening, and Chelsea are reliably believed to be eyeing a centre-back as one of the main priorities on their agenda.

They’ve already been linked with a host of new defenders, including Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, Ajax sensation Jorrel Hato, Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite and Burnley ace Maxine Esteve, but one name who keeps being mentioned is Bournemouth star Dean Huijsen.

The Spain international is set to be one of the Premier League’s most sought-after defensive targets this summer, amid reports of a £50 million release clause written into his contract following a very impressive debut campaign in the English top flight.

Ali Barat pushing Dean Huijsen to join Chelsea

Chelsea have held productive talks with Huijsen’s camp in recent weeks, according to journalist Simon Phillips, and the reporter now claims that his agent, Ali Barat, is determined for him to seal a west London move.

Phillips claims Barat is pushing for Huijsen to join Chelsea as he actively works on a deal, even if the player’s father, Don, would prefer it if he joined Liverpool.

“Agent Ali Barat is working on the deal and is pushing Huijsen towards Chelsea,” said Phillips, via his Substack.

“The player’s father has so far been keen for him to join Liverpool. The player has always said that he won’t make a decision until the season ends, but Chelsea continue to work on it, as do Liverpool.”

The 20-year-old has been outstanding this term, and is now an undroppable member of Andoni Iraola’s starting eleven, prompting members of the media to call Huijsen a perfect modern-day defender.

“He is so cool, so composed, so chill, as he said,” said Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp.

“He just makes the game look so easy and so effortless. For a 20-year-old to be playing at this level and doing what he is, that’s why he’s coveted by pretty much everyone in Europe.

“If you’re creating a footballer, the modern-day centre-back, you’ve got a bit of the influence from the Netherlands, the influence from Spain, where they come out with the ball and all the great defenders they’ve had.

“And then you’ve got that Italian mark on it as well so the journey, the mixture that he’s got, is pretty perfect, and now he’s found himself in the Premier League. The elements are good, everything is right for him. You have to get all the right ingredients to be a top player.

“He’s a complete player, this young man.”

All of sudden, Manchester City’s season doesn’t look quite as cursed.

Indeed, Pep Guardiola’s men might not be picking up a Premier League title, but the bruised Citizens have at least managed to dress up their wounds somewhat, with an FA Cup final against Crystal Palace now on the horizon after a comfortable 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at Wembley.

In the end, City’s class and know-how won them the high-stakes affair, with a whole host of players sticking out on the big occasion.

Man City's top performers vs Forest

City were in control of the game from the moment Rico Lewis broke the deadlock after just two minutes, with Forest’s counter-attacking game disrupted by Lewis’ early opener.

Overall, the City academy product stood out at Wembley, away from just this crucial contribution, with the 20-year-old showing off his coolness throughout when only giving up possession six times from 36 accurate passes.

Likewise, the second goalscorer on the day in Josko Gvardiol was a calm performer throughout, with his header on the 51st minute mark amazingly his sixth strike of a mightily impressive individual campaign.

Away from the Croat and the Englishman stealing most of the headlines, the likes of Nico O’Reilly also impressed once more at Wembley, with one solo effort from the versatile number 75 nearly sending the City masses into raptures in the first half, as well as successfully winning eight duels.

But, there was another star performer who arguably put in his greatest performance of the season to send City to the FA Cup final…

Man City star put in his best performance of the season

Away from faces such as O’Reilly breaking into the first team picture recently, the City lineup to face Nuno Espirito Santo’s challengers was comprised of some well-known Etihad figures.

Mateo Kovacic certainly fits into this category, with the 30-year-old up to 85 appearances and counting for Guardiola’s men after dictating play centrally versus Forest.

Whilst the 110-time Croatia international had chipped in with seven goals and one assist in all competitions this season prior to this showdown, he hasn’t quite been as influential over one isolated contest like he was on Sunday, with City immediately in the driving seat in the game after the ex-Chelsea man teed up Lewis for the opener.

Away from picking up that assist, Kovacic amassed his aforementioned 109 touches as a busy body in the middle of the pitch, alongside also registering five successful dribbles to constantly push his team forward to unsettle their opponents.

Minutes played

89

Goals scored

0

Assists

1

Touches

109

Accurate passes

88/94 (94%)

Key passes

2

Successful dribbles

5/6

Total duels won

7/13

Whilst Kovacic would strut his stuff throughout as a confident performer, he would also roll up his sleeves when needed to battle against Forest, with seven total duels won in total proving his well-rounded game.

Subsequently, Manchester Evening journalist Simon Bajkowski would wax lyrical about the 30-year-old come the full-time whistle, stating that Kovacic was “barely a step out of place” across his 89 minutes on the Wembley turf, resulting in a high 9/10 rating being handed his way.

City will be gunning for another Wembley success when the FA Cup final occurs next month, knowing full well that another trophy being added to their glittering cabinet makes this campaign worthy of remembering for the positives, rather than any lingering blunders.

Man City have struck gold on "exceptional" gem worth more than Kerkez

City have hit the jackpot on a current academy graduate who is starring under Guardiola.

ByRoss Kilvington Apr 26, 2025

Aston Villa suffered defeat in their Champions League quarter-final first leg away from home against Paris Saint-Germian on Wednesday night.

It was a disappointing night at the office for Unai Emery’s side, who defended with lots of heart throughout but ultimately could not stop the French giants from scoring three goals, running out 3-1 winners.

It was a game filled with high-quality finishes across the board from both sides. Two of those strikes came from PSG’s wide pair of Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who were driving at the Villans’ defence nonstop throughout the game. It is fair to say they struggled to contain on the night.

Aston Villa’s struggles against Doue and Kvaratskhelia

Villa’s defenders might not have a tougher task this season than dealing with Doue and Kvaratskhelia. The pair were electric and made life tough to cope with for Villa, with both players getting on the scoresheet.

Doue’s strike was an excellent one, cutting inside on his right foot and curling an effort into the top right corner past Martinez.

As for Kvaratskhelia’s, well, you could argue it was even better. He picked up the ball inside the Villa half, carried it into their box before selling Axel Disasi a dummy by rolling his foot over the ball and blasting it home at Emi Martinez’s near post.

Journalist Mohamed Salad said they are the reason “why you pay to watch football games” which is rather apt. He made things incredibly stressful for Disasi and Matty Cash, the Villans’ rightbacks on the night. The latter was booked and taken off at half-time, before Disasi, who replaced the Poland star, was rolled for Kvaratskhelia’s goal.

Player ratings courtesy of Sofascore

Incredibly, the West Midlands outfit have a player worth even more than both.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

The Villa player worth more than Doue and Kvaratskhelia

On big Champions League nights, you need your star players to stand up for the count, and that is certainly what Doue and Kvaratskhelia did.

Coincidentally, it’s also what England international Morgan Rogers did at the Parc des Princes too. The England international, who is a “wonderful”, in the words of Glenn Hoddle, got his side’s only goal in Paris.

What a strike it was, too, adding to the list of high-quality goals on show. The former Manchester Cty academy star got on the end of a wonderful team move, started by John McGinn, who won the ball back in midfield.

He fired it along the ground to Marcus Rashford, who played a perfectly weighted pass to Youri Tielemans. The Belgian fired the ball across the box, and Rogers tapped home.

It was a brilliant goal from Unai Emery’s side, and it is no surprise that Rogers was the man to cap off such a wonderful move. He now has 14 goals and 11 assists in 45 appearances this term in the famous Claret and Blue shirt.

When looking at Rogers’ underlying numbers courtesy of Sofascore, you can see just how well he has played across all competitions. For example, the England star has played 62 key passes and 90 successful dribbles.

Key passes

62

1.5

Dribbles completed

90

2.2

Big chances created

18

0.4

Tackles and interceptions

51

1.3

Expected goal involvements

14.52xGI

0.35xGI

Football Transfers now believe he is worth more than both Doue and Kvaratskhelia. The attacker, who was born in Halesowen, is worth around £68m. In contrast, via, Football Transfers, Doue is worth a £53m, and Kvaratskhelia is valued at £60m. Not bad indeed.

Impressively, that valuation is more than any of his teammates at Villa Park and if anything, that just highlights the importance of Rogers and the excellent investment that Villa made.

They paid just £15m last January to sign him from Middlesbrough, a brilliant signing.

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