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The decision to get rid of Gary O’Neil from the Wolverhampton Wanderers hot seat continues to look like the correct decision, even if the Old Gold are still staring over their shoulder anxiously at the relegation places in the Premier League.

Under the former choppy managerial regime, Wolves were leaking goals for fun and losing clashes left, right and centre, with O’Neil tallying up a worrying 11 league defeats this season before his expected dismissal.

Now, under the more polished reign of Vitor Pereira, Wolves are two points clear of the bottom three, with a 2-0 win over Aston Villa sticking out as a key result near the foot of the division.

Pereira will hope he can one day be remembered in a similar vein to Nuno Espirito Santo, with the Portuguese manager hailed as a modern-day great at Molineux, before then embarking on a new adventure elsewhere at Nottingham Forest.

Nuno's standout Wolves stars

Glancing at the stars Nuno had at his disposal in the West Midlands makes for some enjoyable reading, with the likes of Raul Jimenez and Diogo Jota starring in attack under the now Forest boss’ methods, alongside the popular 51-year-old also possessing midfield superstars such as Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho.

Neves was undoubtedly one of the finest stars to ever don an Old Gold jersey under the Portuguese coach, with Neves going on to amass a weighty 253 appearances for the club as 30 goals and 13 assists came his way.

Delving deeper, the likes of Jota also really came into their own in the English game at Wolves before becoming a success at Anfield, with all 44 of his strikes at Molineux coming under the much-celebrated boss.

Where Are They Now

But, for all the many hits, there were a couple of notable misses, with this attacker – who joined during the same transfer window as Jimenez – going down as a complete disaster.

The Wolves flop now outperforming Larsen and Ait-Nouri

Before we look at how this flop has turned around their playing days after a bruising experience at Molineux, some scars have to be reopened.

Patrick Cutrone would join the Wolves ranks for a bumper £16m in the summer of 2019, with the club’s impressive track record in unearthing top-quality gems from abroad no doubt making the Old Gold faithful believe that this would be another successful and exciting buy.

Unfortunately, sweet strikes such as this one from the Italian versus West Ham United wouldn’t be regular, with only three goals and four assists coming the ex-AC Milan attacker’s way from 28 largely forgettable appearances.

In the end – after multiple loan stints away from the club saw him move out to Spain among other new locations – Cutrone would up and leave permanently for hometown side Como in 2022, bringing his cursed stay in England to a thankful halt.

The one-time senior Italy international would open up about his headspace during his dismal time with the Old Gold shortly after returning to his native country, stating that he felt “alone” throughout his bumpy stay.

The 6 foot attacker being back in familiar surroundings would soon see the Old Gold dud get back to the goalscoring best that resulted in Wolves once forking out £16m, with Cutrone’s encouraging output this campaign in Serie A actually bettering both Jorgen Larsen and Rayan Ait-Nouri’s own numbers back in Pereira’s camp.

Cutrone would slot straight into second place in the table above if he was still at Wolves, with the Como-born attacker picking up six goals and four assists this season in league action.

As a result, he betters Larsen by one goal contribution and his left-back teammate by two, as Cutrone attempts to just shrug off his poor spell in England with more and more standout showings in Italy.

Wolves must regret losing loan "maestro" who's worth 202% more than Munetsi

Wolves had an exciting talent on their books

By
Joe Nuttall

Feb 15, 2025

Fenerbahce are stepping up negotiations to sign Rasmus Hojlund on loan from Manchester United, according to a new report.

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• Jose Mourinho's side want striker on loan
• Has endured difficult season at Old Trafford
• Negotiations set to begin in Manchester

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Per Fotomac, Fenerbahce are set to step up their pursuit of Hojlund as they aim to bring the Denmark international in on loan this summer. The Turkish club are acutely aware of the need to sign a new striker this summer, with Edin Dzeko's contract expiring and both Cenk Tosun and Youssef En-Nesyri available for transfer.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  According to the report, Fener sporting director Mario Branco is poised to travel to England to begin negotiations with United over a move for the 22-year-old. The club hope to sign the Denmark international on loan with an option to buy but it is unclear if United will countenance that prospect.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Hojlund has scored four Premier League goals this season in 31 games and has been at the centre of some intense criticism; United legend Roy Keane recently claimed the club do not have a striker in a pointed dig at the forward.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  United face Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final on Wednesday evening. Then, one can imagine that negotiations will get underway for a multitude of summer deals.

Kevin De Bruyne’s move to Napoli has stalled due to club’s managerial uncertainty, with rumours emerging that he could continue in the Premier League.

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• Kevin De Bruyne being pursued by Serie A champions Napoli
• Serie A side emerge as front-runners amid MLS interest
• Reports emerge the Belgian could remain in the Premier League

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to a report by The Independent, De Bruyne’s proposed move to Napoli is now in jeopardy amid fresh interest from the Premier League. The Belgian international is set to leave Manchester City this summer following the expiration of his contract. The six-time Premier League winner was initially eyeing a move abroad, with the Serie A side emerging as the front-runners for his signature, alongside MLS club Chicago Fire.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Napoli, after winning the Serie A, had identified Kevin De Bruyne as a key addition to their squad, given his world-class skill set. However, with manager Antonio Conte's future still uncertain, De Bruyne is weighing up his options. The Belgian reportedly had a 25-minute conversation with Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis, and while the Italian club have presented the most lucrative offer, reports suggest that negotiations are not as advanced as portrayed by the Italian media. According to the report, De Bruyne may even remain in England, potentially with Liverpool, in what would be an extremely controversial move, reminiscent of Carlos Tevez's switch from Manchester United to Manchester City.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Kevin De Bruyne was on a £400,000-a-week wage, according to BBC Sport, making him the second-highest-paid player at Manchester City after Erling Haaland signed a record-breaking deal earlier this season.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR KEVIN DE BRUYNE?

  The Belgian international will now wait for the right offer to secure his future, carefully weighing up his next move as he approaches the final stage of his illustrious career.

Shifting their focus towards the summer transfer window, Arsenal are now reportedly in pole position ahead of Manchester United in the race to sign a 20-goal striker worth £62m.

Arsenal transfer news

Whether it’s been with or without Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus, Arsenal’s biggest obstacle has been their struggling frontline this season. It has stood in the way of that crucial next step for Mikel Arteta, who has watched his side go from free-flowing to set piece specialists at times even when everyone was fit.

Arsenal looking to hijack AC Milan move to sign £50m Cunha teammate

The Gunners could land an impressive double swoop…

By
Tom Cunningham

Feb 28, 2025

The Spaniard will be desperate to rediscover that attractive, attacking spark, which should see the Gunners step into the transfer market in pursuit of finally finding a forward capable of dragging them to major silverware.

Already, several names have been mentioned as possible candidates on that front with Alexander Isak the biggest of the lot. The Newcastle United man has once again enjoyed a standout season for the Magpies to reportedly bump his price up to a staggering £150m ahead of the summer transfer window. As much as Arsenal admire the Swede, it remains to be seen whether they can afford to meet such a figure.

Instead, they could turn towards an alternative option who has been just as impressive this season. According to Sport Digitale’s Yagiz Sabuncuoglu, Arsenal are now leading the race ahead of Manchester United to sign Victor Osimhen, who has a release clause of just £62m this summer.

The Napoli man, who’s been on loan at Galatasaray this season, has looked destined for the top of European football for some time now, but has often been priced out of a move by his parent club.

Now worth £62m, however, the Nigerian could finally get the move that he has been craving since Napoli left him with no choice but to head out on loan to Galatasaray last summer.

"Dominant" Osimhen would end Arsenal's attacking woes

Whilst Havertz could be accused of drifting out of games without making his mark, Osimhen is a player more than capable of taking responsibility and dragging his side to success. He did exactly that at Napoli when they won the Scudetto in the 2022/23 campaign and he’s now doing exactly that at Galatasaray, who sit six points clear at the top of the Turkish Super Lig.

The Nigerian has more than played his part in that rise, scoring 20 goals despite playing just 27 games in all competitions. Described as “dominant aerially” and a “powerful ball striker” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Osimhen is everything that Arsenal’s blunt frontline lacks.

For close to £100m less than Isak, Arsenal could land a goalscorer with experience at the very top who is primed to step back into one of Europe’s top five leagues this summer.

Seeking attacking reinforcements, Newcastle United could now sign a striker worth over £40m by taking full advantage of his recent fallout with teammates in what has been a nightmare period.

£40m+ star could replace Isak

With Alexander Isak set to be at the centre of a transfer scramble this summer, it’s no surprise that Newcastle are reportedly seeking attacking additions just in case. The Swede is one of the most impressive strikers in Europe, which could yet see his price tag rise to £150m. That may not stop the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal from making their moves, however, such is their desperation for such a clinical forward.

Of course, there would also be some benefits from cashing in on Isak. By selling the former Real Sociedad man for around £150m, PIF’s full spending power would be unleashed from the chains of PSR, which have forced Newcastle to spectate several hefty deals rather than act in the last two transfer windows.

Once unleashed, the Magpies could be a frightening prospect on the hunt for the reinforcements that Eddie Howe has so desperately needed at times throughout the current campaign.

With that said, those in Tyneside will already be smelling blood around one particular target. According to Sport BILD, as relayed by Sports Witness, Newcastle could now sign Victor Boniface from Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth €50m (£42m) this summer following a nightmare few weeks for the Nigerian.

1/8 duels won: Howe must be worried after Newcastle star's worst display yet

Newcastle won at the London Stadium ahead of this weekend’s Carabao Cup final against Liverpool.

By
Angus Sinclair

Mar 11, 2025

Since Al-Nassr ditched the chance to sign the forward in January – instead sealing a move for Jhon Duran – Boniface has fallen out with recent arrival Emi Buendia and, to make matters worse, been involved in a car crash having earlier filmed himself driving at 140km/h.

A growing problem at Leverkusen, the Bundesliga champions could decide to show the 24-year-old the door – leaving Newcastle to take full advantage.

Newcastle should take Boniface gamble

Although his recent discipline struggles should spark plenty of concern, Boniface is one worth taking a gamble on if Isak departs this summer. For £42m, the Magpies could replace their star striker and have plenty of money left in the bank to improve the rest of Howe’s squad in pursuit of Champions League qualification next season.

Whilst his actions have been unsavoury in recent weeks, the numbers speak for themselves. Boniface has been as clinical as ever whenever he’s had the chance to start for Xabi Alonso’s side – scoring seven goals from 6.9 expected goals.

It wasn’t so long ago that the Nigerian found himself at the centre of the Spaniard’s praise either. The Bayer Leverkusen boss told reporters earlier this season: “He has many qualities that could make him as formidable as Drogba.

“His strength and the difficulties he creates for defenders are remarkable. He’s exceptional in tight spaces and thrives around the box. But he needs to be more assertive in attacking the box when opportunities arise.”

Liverpool star Harvey Elliott has opened the door to leaving the Merseyside club this summer amid his lack of minutes under Arne Slot.

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• Elliott struggling for minutes under Slot at Liverpool
• Midfielder opens the door to a potential departure
• Claims that he doesn't 'want to be wasting years'

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Elliott joined Liverpool's youth system in 2019 from Fulham after having come through the Cottagers' ranks. The Reds have seen the London-born midfielder slowly grow into the senior team; however, the 22-year-old has not been a major part of the first team. This season, Elliott only managed 822 minutes under Slot, with players like Wataru Endo and Curtis Jones getting priority. The midfielder has now opened up that he may be considering leaving the Reds, so as not to 'waste years'.

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  WHAT ELLIOTT SAID

  Speaking to the media while on duty with England U-21, Elliott said: "It's just a situation that me and the team have to have a conversation about because I'm coming into an age now where I'm 22, I'm going to be 23 next season. I don't really want to be wasting years on my career because it's a short career. You don't know what's going to happen.

  "I need to reflect. I need to see if I'm content in doing what I'm doing and how can I improve as a player, because that's the most important thing. I just want to improve and be the best possible version of myself. If that's to go somewhere else, then it's a decision that I'm going to have to make, and I just need to see what happens.

  "Nothing makes me want to leave. I love the club, I love the fans, the team. I support them as well. But most importantly, it's just about what's best for my career."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Liverpool are set to sign another midfielder in the form of Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz if they can reach an agreement with Die Werkself. However, the signing will also push Elliott further down the pecking order. As such, it may be likely that the England U-21 star may be headed for the exit doors at Anfield.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR ELLIOTT?

  The midfielder has yet to make his way into the England senior squad, and he will also likely be hoping that a fresh start with another side could help him rise into Thomas Tuchel's shortlist of midfielders for the Three Lions, with the World Cup approaching fast.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has told the Gunners board to try and sign a marquee player this summer, with this next month described as pivotal in determining whether the Premier League heavyweights can get a deal done.

Andrea Berta agrees Arsenal deal as new director with targets identified

Over the weekend, news surfaced that Arsenal agreed a deal with ex-Atletico Madrid chief Andrea Berta to become their new sporting director.

Andrea Berta's dream XI at Arsenal: New Haaland signs & Partey gets the axe

Andrea Berta is on the verge of linking up with Arsenal as their new sporting director.

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By
Matt Dawson

Mar 10, 2025

The 53-year-old left Atletico after 12 fruitful years at the Wanda Metropolitano, and his availability piqued serious interest from Arsenal, who entered negotiations and sought to tempt him with a move to the Emirates.

Following positive talks with the Italian, both Arsenal and Berta shook hands on an agreement for him to succeed Edu Gaspar, following his departure from N5 in November.

This comes as excellent news for Arsenal and Arteta, with Berta expected to immediately get to work on the club’s transfer activity. According to reliable journalist Ben Jacobs, the chief has already identified targets ahead of next season, and one of them is Newcastle United star Alexander Isak.

The Sweden international, who currently stands out as a superstar striker in the Premier League, is enjoying yet another fine season at St James’ Park with 22 goals from 32 appearances in all competitions.

Two of those strikes actually came against Arteta’s side, once in the top flight and another in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final, so Arsenal know full well just how dangerous he can be in front of goal.

Newcastle are adopting a firm stance when it comes to selling Isak, though, with some reports suggesting that the Magpies won’t even entertain bids of less than £150 million (Ben Jacobs).

However, Arteta is believed to be a massive fan of Isak, and won’t completely call time on the chase for his signature this summer – despite the many hurdles in Arsenal’s way.

Arteta has told Arsenal to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle United

According to a report from Spain, the tactician is more determined than ever to land him.

Indeed, it is believed that Arteta has told the Arsenal board to try and strike a deal for Isak, who has become their main target ahead of next campaign. The club are prepared to mount a challenge for the 25-year-old in response to their manager’s request, and Arsenal believe he could be the player who transforms them into eventual Premier League champions.

As well as this, the next few weeks are apparently “key” when it comes to Isak’s future and a potential move from Arsenal.

Ex-Nigeria international Sunday Oliseh has described the former Real Sociedad star as one of the most exciting and “underrated” players in the division, and there is no arguing Isak’s quality. That being said, it is exactly why Newcastle will come as a major hurdle for Arsenal.

Their demands are set to be extravagant, so Arteta’s side may need to smash their transfer record if they have any hope of reaching an agreement.

Napoli striker Victor Osimhen is reportedly 'dreaming' of a move to Manchester United after rejecting a move to Al-Hilal.

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• Osimhen snubs Al-Hilal move
• Faces uncertain Napoli future
• 'Dreaming' of Man Utd switch

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Gazzetta dello Sport, via Sport Witness, claim the Nigerian international is 'dreaming' of an Old Trafford switch, with United 'studying a strategy' to land him later this summer. Napoli CEO Aurelio de Laurentiis is said to want suitors to pay Osimhen's €75 million (£63.5m) release clause, with the Red Devils reportedly considering including forward Joshua Zirkee in a possible move.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  United's biggest transfer priority ahead of next season is to, arguably, sign a clinical striker. Ruben Amorim's team were so short on goals in 2024/25 in attack, and if Osimhen did join, that would be a real statement of intent. The report adds that Napoli and United are on 'good relations' following the Scott McTominay deal and that could facilitate an Osimhen transfer.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Osimhen, who rejected a move to Saudi Pro League team Al-Hilal, has enjoyed another prolific season in front of goal, with the 26-year-old scoring 37 goals in 41 games while on loan at Galatasaray.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Osimhen, who is still the subject of interest from Al-Hilal and has also been linked with Juventus, Arsenal, and Chelsea, is once again set to be the subject of much transfer interest in the coming weeks and months. But whether he does leave Napoli remains to be seen.

Celtic got a look at what life could look like after Callum McGregor’s playing days are over when he missed the Old Firm clash with Rangers in the Scottish Premiership last weekend.

The former Scotland international missed the match through injury and Arne Engels was deployed in a deeper role than usual, with Reo Hatate and Luke McCowan either side of him.

Unfortunately, it was a disappointing afternoon for the Hoops as they lost 3-2 to their city rivals, despite coming from 2-0 down to make it 2-2 in the second half.

Why Callum McGregor is important to Celtic

McGregor’s absence was felt for multiple reasons because the central midfielder is a big cog in Brendan Rodgers’ system, whilst he is also the current club captain and leader in the dressing room.

The left-footed star operates at the base of the midfield and uses his composure and ability on the ball to dictate the tempo of matches, completing an eye-catching 94% of his attempted passes in the Premiership this season.

McGregor, who has scored eight goals in the league this term, tops the club’s collection of midfielders for passes completed per game (78.3) and pass accuracy (94%), which speaks to how important he is to the midfield set-up with his metronomic presence for Celtic.

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 Scottish star does turn 32 this summer, though, and Rodgers may have to start thinking about whom the next captain will be for the Hoops, and Cameron Carter-Vickers is one potential candidate – as the Hoops have hit the jackpot with the American titan.

Celtic struck gold on their next captain

Ange Postecoglou initially signed the USA international on loan from Tottenham Hotspur for the 2021/22 campaign before the club swooped to sign him permanently for £6m at the end of that season, having been impressed by his performances.

This is his third season with the Hoops as a permanent player, and he is on course to help the club to a third Premiership title in that time, having also won the division in his season on loan at Parkhead.

The 27-year-old star, who was described as “aggressive” by Rodgers, has delivered consistently brilliant performances in that time, earning a place in the PFA Team of the Year in each campaign.

As you can see in the table above, his defensive brilliance for Celtic has caused his market value to soar to a whopping £11.7m – millions more than what the club reportedly paid to sign him permanently from Spurs.

He has also developed into a leader for the Hoops. The central defender has captained the club on three occasions in the Premiership this season when McGregor has been absent, as well as in four league games last term, which shows that Rodgers believes he has the leadership qualities to be the next captain at Parkhead.

This means that Carter-Vickers could succeed the Scottish midfielder, who is four years older than him, as the new skipper in the future if he remains in Glasgow.

Overall, Postecoglou struck gold with Carter-Vickers because the central defender is worth millions more than what Celtic bought him for, and has the potential to be a future captain for the club, due to his performances on the pitch and his leadership on and off it.

Celtic star who's "so underrated" can become Rodgers' next Ryan Christie

Celtic have a star on their hands who could be the next Ryan Christie at Parkhead.

By
Dan Emery

Mar 20, 2025

Bournemouth's transfer activity appears to have paved the way for Liverpool to sign highly-rated left-back Milos Kerkez.

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• Bournemouth deal points to Kerkez sale
• Replacement arrives in £15m transfer
• Liverpool on course to land Hungarian star

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Bournemouth have announced the signing of French left-back Adrien Truffert. The 23-year-old joins from Rennes, where he had been captain since January, on a long-term contract to 2030. The package, including add-ons, is reported to be worth just under £15 million ($20m) and therefore not a minor expense.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Everything points to Kerkez being allowed to leave now that a replacement has been signed. The Hungary international has been on Liverpool's radar for months and has reported that a package worth £40-45m ($54-61m) is "at an advanced stage". There are still things to resolve as talks between the clubs continue, but it is possible that an agreement is reached by the end of the week that makes him Liverpool's third major signing of of the summer after bringing in Jeremie Frimpong and hammering out a deal for Florian Wirtz.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  With Kerkez set to arrive at Anfield, there is uncertainty about Andrew Robertson's Liverpool future beyond this summer. The 31-year-old has gone past his peak and is no longer one of the world's best full-backs, leading to suggestions that he could even be let go sooner rather than later. Atletico Madrid are seeemingly keen, although it has been reported that they ideally want Liverpool to release him on a free transfer.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

  Although Bournemouth's capture of Truffert suggests it should be a formality, Liverpool still need to finalise the outstanding minor details to complete the Kerkez deal. But it could then quickly follow Wirtz's arrival, with the record-breaking German set for a medical this week.