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English football clubs have a rich history in the Champions League. Since 1992/93, there have been seven English winners following Manchester United’s triumph in 1999.

Next year will see England will take their continental supremacy to another level, with five teams qualifying for the league phase via the Premier League – while they could be joined by this year’s Europa League winners.

And amid the fight for a top-five finish, some unlikely candidates have placed themselves in the race to qualify, with Nottingham Forest looking to compete for the first time in 45 years.

With the Reds hoping to join a growing list of clubs to make the final competition in its modern guise, here’s a look at every English team to play some form of Champions League football since its 1992/93 revamp.

When can Nottingham Forest qualify for the Champions League?

Forest are on the verge of qualifying for the first time in 45 years.

By
Stephan Georgiou

Apr 8, 2025

Every English club to play in the Champions League
Club	CL debut	CL seasons	Last played	Best performance
Arsenal	1998/99	21	2024/25	Final (2006)
Aston Villa	2024/25	1	2024/25	Quarter-finals (2025)
Blackburn	1995/96	1	1995/96	Group stage (1995)
Chelsea	1999/00	19	2022/23	Winners (2012, 2021)
Everton	2005/06	1	2005/06	Third qualifying round (2005)
Leeds	1992/93	2	2000/01	Semi-finals (2001)
Leicester	2016/17	1	2016/17	Quarter-finals (2017)
Liverpool	2001/02	16	2024/25	Winners (2005, 2019)
Man City	2011/12	14	2024/25	Winners (2023)
Man Utd	1993/94	26	2023/24	Winners (1999, 2008)
Newcastle	1997/98	4	2023/24	Second group phase (2003)
Tottenham	2010/11	6	2022/23	Final (2019)

1

Arsenal

CL seasons: 21

Arsenal are on cloud nine after battering European champions Real Madrid at the Emirates Stadium recently.

It was one of their finest European nights, and are on the verge of making the semi-finals for just the third time.

Making their debut in 1998/99, the closest they have come to lifting the trophy is losing the 2006 final to Barcelona, and made a knack of exiting at the last-16 stage before back-to-back quarter-final appearances upon their long-awaited return to the competition in 2023/24.

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By
Stephan Georgiou

Apr 9, 2025

2

Aston Villa

CL seasons: 1

Unai Emery delivered a superb Champions League finish in his first full season at Aston Villa, and has the Midlands side potentially 90 minutes away from the semi-finals at the time of writing.

Winners of the European Cup in 1982, Villa spent over a decade without European football before reaching the Conference League semi-finals in 2024.

While their European campaign is in danger of ending soon, the Villans have seemingly returned to the top table for good – and may yet qualify again next season.

Which English clubs will play in Europe next season?

There is a fierce fight to claim a European football spot this season – which teams will make it?

By
Stephan Georgiou

Mar 29, 2025

3

Blackburn Rovers

CL seasons: 1

Upon winning the Premier League in 1994/95, Blackburn Rovers were England’s sole representative in the 1995/96 edition of the Champions League.

Unfortunately, it did not pan out too well for Rovers, with the Lancashire side finishing bottom of their group.

Their fixture against Spartak Moscow is perhaps best known for an incident where teammates David Batty and Graeme Le Saux came to blows as their European dream ended.

4

Chelsea

CL seasons: 19

Only Manchester United and Arsenal have featured more often in the Champions League than Chelsea, with the Blues firmly in the race to return to the competition after two seasons away.

The Blues’ finest hours on the continental stage have come in the form of their two trophy wins – firstly in 2012, when a dramatic comeback and penalty shootout saw off favourites Bayern Munich.

They bagged a second Champions League crown against league rivals Manchester City in Porto as England boss Thomas Tuchel showcased his tournament credentials.

Chelsea's 12 best matches in European football – ranked

From Champions League final glory to beating rivals in their own backyard, Chelsea have enjoyed many unforgettable nights on the continental stage.

By
Ross Kilvington

Mar 7, 2025

5

Everton

CL seasons: 1

Everton’s Champions League history is decidedly brief, though not for some questionable officiating, it could have been a little longer.

The Toffees’ fourth-place finish in the 2004/05 Premier League saw them enter the third qualifying round – the last round before the group stages.

Coming up against Villarreal, Everton had it all do in their second leg in Spain as they sought to overturn a 2-1 deficit.

But having battled to level the second leg at 1-1, a Duncan Ferguson header to force extra-time was inexplicably ruled out for a foul by Pierluigi Collina, before a sucker-punch strike from Diego Forlan broke Everton hearts.

6

Leeds United

CL seasons: 2

As English league champions, Leeds United took part in the ‘first’ tournament of the post-European Cup era.

They came unstuck pretty quickly in the second round – which preceded the group stages – against Rangers, but put up a far better fight in their most recent appearance in 2000/01.

Leeds made the semi-finals, defeating the likes of Milan, Lazio and Deportivo along the way, before being beaten by Valencia in the last four.

7

Leicester City

CL seasons: 1

Part of Leicester City’s reward for their fairytale Premier League triumph was a place in the following season’s Champions League.

While their domestic season fell totally flat (Claudio Ranieri was dismissed before their European exit), they ended up as the last English club standing in 2016/17.

After winning their group, they came from behind to defeat Sevilla on aggregate, though Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid proved a bridge too far in the quarter-finals.

8

Liverpool

CL seasons: 19

Liverpool’s place in European Cup and Champions League history is assured, winning the famous trophy six times.

However, their first appearance in the Champions League didn’t come until 2001/02 under Gerard Houllier, whose successor, Rafael Benitez, led the Reds to their classic final victory over Milan in 2005.

They have since won it once more in 2019, with Jurgen Klopp’s side defeating Tottenham in Madrid.

Liverpool's 9 best European nights – ranked

Liverpool have had plenty of wonderful European nights over the years.

By
Ross Kilvington

Nov 27, 2024

9

Manchester City

CL seasons: 14

Manchester City have appeared in every edition of the Champions League since their debut in 2011/12.

After a number of false starts, they finally made the final in 2021, and although they were beaten by Chelsea on that occasion, they made up for it by sealing a historic treble in 2023 with a victory over Inter.

Having suffered on the pitch in 2024/25, their place in next season’s competition is not yet certain.

English football clubs with the most major trophies

Which club can claim to have the proudest history when it comes to winning trophies?

By
Ross Kilvington

May 21, 2025

10

Manchester United

CL seasons: 26

Manchester United have been kings of Europe three times – including twice in the Champions League era.

United won Europe’s biggest prize in 1968, 1999 and 2008, but have only reached the last eight once in the last 11 seasons.

At their peak, United reached three finals in four years between 2008 and 2011, only to run into Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona on two occasions.

They have been England’s most frequent representatives since 1992, appearing 26 times.

Manchester United’s dismal season in the Premier League continued to hit new lows after a 1-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Vitor Pereira’s side, who have been battling relegation all season, are now level on points with the Red Devils on 58 points, only behind them on goal difference.

A stunning free-kick from Pablo Sarabia was the difference between the two sides in Manchester, as a moment of quality decided the match in a stadium where that has often been the case for the home team in the Premier League era.

A lack of quality sums up where United are at this moment in time – sat 14th in the league table – and their selection of strikers is a damning indictment on the recruitment work done behind the scenes in recent years.

Rasmus Hojlund, signed from Atalanta in a £72m deal in 2023, started against Wolves and failed to score, which means that he has scored three goals in 28 Premier League matches.

Joshua Zirkzee was unavailable and is set to miss the remainder of the season due to a hamstring injury, but he has rarely provided the quality that United need in the final third.

Why Man Utd could move on from Joshua Zirkzee

The Red Devils reportedly paid a fee of £36.5m to sign the Netherlands international from Serie A side Bologna last summer to compete with Hojlund for a spot in the starting line-up.

Unfortunately, neither of them have performed well enough to nail down the position of Manchester United’s first-choice number nine, instead taking turns at struggling at the top end of the pitch in the Premier League.

Zirkzee has started 14 of his 32 appearances in the division, which shows that he has failed to perform well enough to be a consistent starter, and scored three goals from 4.82 xG in that time.

Joshua Zirkzee’s striking struggles
24/25 Premier League	Per 90	Percentile rank
Non-penalty xG	0.31	Bottom 36%
Non-penalty goals	0.19	Bottom 16%
Shots	1.89	Bottom 9%
Assists	0.06	Bottom 19%
Expected Assisted Goals	0.10	Bottom 41%
Shot-creating actions	1.99	Bottom 31%
Stats via FBref

As you can see in the table above, the Dutch centre-forward ranks incredibly lowly among strikers in the Premier League in a host of key goalscoring metrics.

These statistics show that Zirkzee does not get into high-quality goalscoring positions on a regular basis and that he fails to make the most of his opportunities when they do come his way.

The former Bayern Munich gem turns 24 next month, almost two years older than Hojlund, and could be moved on this summer to make room for a new striker. He cost more than £30m less than the Danish prospect, which could make it more appealing to sell to limit any losses on their initial outlay.

Man Utd reach agreement with £30m striker

According to Africa Foot, as relayed by TEAMtalk, Manchester United have already reached an agreement with Victor Osimhen and his representatives ahead of a possible transfer.

The report claims that the Red Devils have struck a deal with the Nigeria international ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window, as they look to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.

It reveals that Osimhen wants to move to the Premier League to take the next step in his career, and he has now given the green light to a transfer to Old Trafford.

The outlet adds that a permanent exit from Napoli is on the cards for the striker this summer, despite his contract not ending until 2026, and that a fee of up to £30m could be enough to secure his services.

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Whilst an agreement may have been reached with Osimhen and his representatives, Manchester United still need to agree a deal with the Italian club to ensure that the forward is part of Ruben Amorim’s squad for the 2025/26 campaign.

The agreement with the player does suggest that they are closing in on the Galatasaray loanee, though, and that may not be good news for Zirkzee and his future in Manchester.

Why Manchester United should sign Victor Osimhen

The Red Devils must continue on their path to signing Osimhen from Napoli this summer because he could come in to solve the problems that they have had in the striker position this season.

The 26-year-old marksman is a prolific and reliable goalscorer who has proven his quality at the top end of the pitch in recent seasons, in Italy, France, and Turkey, whilst the United front two have struggled throughout the 2024/25 campaign in the Premier League.

Victor Osimhen’s reliable goalscoring
Season	Club	Appearances	Goals
24/25	Galatasaray	33	29
23/24	Napoli	32	17
22/23	Napoli	39	31
21/22	Napoli	32	18
20/21	Napoli	30	10
19/20	Lille	35	17
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Osimhen has scored 17 goals or more in five of the last six seasons for Lille, Napoli, and Galatasaray, with a staggering 29 goals in 33 matches in the current campaign.

The Napoli forward, who was once described as a “monster” by analyst Ben Mattinson, was particularly impressive in the 2022/23 Serie A season, scoring 26 goals to guide his side to the title.

Zirkzee, meanwhile, has only scored seven goals in 48 matches in all competitions in his debut year in England, which would be Osimhen’s lowest tally in any of his last six years.

This suggests that Osimhen, who currently ranks within the top 1% of forwards in the Men’s Big 5 Leagues and European competitions for non-penalty xG per 90 (0.98), would come in as a significant upgrade on both Zirkzee and Hojlund due to his ability to consistently and reliably find the back of the net, adapting to new countries and leagues with ease.

In terms of what that would mean for the current United strikers, Zirkzee being older and less expensive than Hojlund could result in him being the one to be sent packing to make room for the Nigerian striker ahead of next season.

Therefore, the news that United have reached an agreement with Osimhen should come as bad news to the Dutch attacker, whose days at Old Trafford may already be numbered.

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Robbie Walls

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It is now down to the board to ensure that they can reach an agreement with Napoli, whether that is for a fee of £30m or not, to bolster Amorim’s attacking options.

Glasgow Rangers had to watch on as their city rivals were crowned champions of the Scottish Premiership for the fourth time in as many seasons.

The Light Blues, who were held to a 2-2 draw by St Mirren last time out, are a whopping 17 points adrift of first place with more matches left to play, which shows that they have not even made it a close race.

Rangers made the decision to part ways with Philippe Clement earlier this year and brought Barry Ferguson in on an interim basis until the end of the season.

The former Scotland international and ex-Rangers midfielder has only won three of his seven Premiership games in charge of the club to date, which does not suggest that he is the right man to take the job on a permanent basis this summer.

The Light Blues need a manager who can bring success back to Ibrox next season. A manager who can bring a league title back to Ibrox next season.

They need to find a head coach of Brendan Rodgers’ calibre. The Northern Irishman had proven himself to be a good manager in the Premier League before his move to Celtic, where he has been incredibly dominant.

Why Brendan Rodgers has been a big success in Scotland

Prior to his first spell at Parkhead, Rodgers earned promotion from the Championship with Swansea in the 2010/11 campaign and finished 11th in his first top-flight season with the Welsh outfit.

That earned him a move to Liverpool in the summer of 2012, and he led the Reds to seventh, second, and sixth-placed finishes in the Premier League in his three full seasons in charge.

Rodgers joined Celtic for the 2016/17 campaign, winning the Premiership title in his two full seasons at the helm, before joining Leicester in early 2019.

The Northern Irishman enjoyed a largely successful time with the Foxes, winning the FA Cup in 2021, before his return to Celtic in the summer of 2023.

Season	Matches played	League position
22/23	28	19th
21/22	38	8th
20/21	38	5th
19/20	38	5th
18/19	10	9th
Stats via Transfermarkt

Since returning to Parkhead, Rodgers has claimed the Premiership title in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 campaigns, and has the chance to win the domestic treble by beating Aberdeen in the SFA Cup final this season.

This shows that he has been a huge success on the other side of Glasgow, and that may be down to, in part, because he arrived at Celtic off the back of several seasons of impressive performances as a manager in the Premier League.

Kevin Thelwell is set to join Rangers as their new sporting director this summer, after his contract with Everton expires, and he reportedly has a former Premier League manager in mind for the job.

Thelwell tells Rangers who would be a good appointment

According to Football Insider, Thelwell has told the 49ers, who are part of an ongoing takeover at Ibrox, that former Everton and Burnley head coach Sean Dyche would be a fantastic appointment for the club.

The report claims that Ferguson is not expected to be given the job on a permanent basis, after his interim spell comes to an end, and this means that the club will be in the market for a new head coach.

Football Insider reports that Thelwell is a big fan of Dyche, with whom he worked at Goodison Park, and he believes that the English boss has the mentality and character to thrive at Ibrox.

The outlet adds that the sporting director also believes that the manager’s direct, physical, style of play would go down well with the supporters in Glasgow.

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However, Football Insider does not reveal whether or not Dyche, who was relieved of his duties by Everton in January, would be open to a move to Ibrox this summer.

If the 53-year-old tactician is interested in joining the Light Blues, the 49ers could land their own version of Brendan Rodgers by bringing him to the club.

Why Rangers should appoint Sean Dyche

The experienced boss would arrive with similar credentials to the ones that Rodgers first arrived at Celtic with, as he has tasted promotion from the Championship and seasons of midtable finishes in the Premier League.

Dyche has shown that he can get a team to win matches regularly to earn promotion, finishing second and first in the 2013/14 and 2015/16 Championship seasons respectively, but he can also set up a side to be resolute and tough to break down, to avoid relegation from the top-flight.

Sean Dyche’s Premier League career
Season	Matches played	League position
24/25	19	16th
23/24	37	15th
22/23	18	17th
21/22	30	18th
20/21	38	17th
19/20	38	10th
18/19	38	15th
17/18	38	7th
16/17	38	16th
14/15	38	19th
Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, Dyche has only been relegated from the Premier League in one of his full seasons in the top-flight, although he did leave Burnley on the edge of relegation with eight games left in the 2021/22 campaign.

The former Toffees head coach, therefore, knows how to create a good team spirit and a gritty mentality because he has led so many sides to safety throughout his time in the English top-flight.

His mixture of experience coaching title-chasing teams and sides that wanted to avoid the drop suggests that he could be a great fit for Rangers, because he can use the former experience to compete for the title in the Premiership and the latter experience to produce hard-working, gritty, displays in big European matches.

Therefore, Dyche, who was dubbed “unbelievable” by Kieran Trippier, could follow in Rodgers’ footsteps as a proven Premier League coach who could arrive in Scotland to win major trophies in Glasgow, but this time at Rangers to end Celtic’s dominance in Scottish football.

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Dan Emery

Apr 30, 2025

It is now down to Thelwell and the club to see if the former Burnley stalwart would be willing to take on the role, and if he is the best option available out of all of their targets.

Liverpool fans are loving life after being crowned Premier League champions and could now be set for another reason to get excited after landing a boost ahead of the summer transfer window.

Liverpool enjoying life at the top of the tree

Truthfully, it is hard for Liverpool fans to have too many gripes at the minute after their side were crowned champions last weekend, trouncing Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield. Arne Slot and company took it all after enjoying the occasion at Anfield, but they will already have one eye on the summer in order to stay one step ahead of their Premier League rivals.

Virgil Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah have both committed their future to the Dutchman’s project. However, the same can’t be said for Real Madrid-linked star Trent Alexander-Arnold. Intriguingly, Liverpool are keeping informed on Barcelona defender Jules Kounde as a potential replacement, which may paint a picture regarding whether their top academy product will stay or leave the club.

Celtic forward Daizen Maeda is also on the radar at Anfield. The Japan international is attracting further interest from Arsenal and Aston Villa in light of his excellent form north of the border.

Imagine him & Gakpo: Slot driving Liverpool deal for £60m "game-changer"

Liverpool are set for a shopping spree this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

May 1, 2025

FSG have their work cut out in the coming window to ensure that Liverpool stay top of the pile, with the suspicion that a tighter title race will be in store circa 2025/26 once managers have had a chance to rectify squad flaws.

Of course, the Reds’ priority will be padding out each position with enough depth to handle the strain of both domestic and European competitions, and they have now received a boost in the hunt for a classy midfield operator.

Liverpool look to strike deal for Genoa star Morten Frendrup

According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool are in the hunt to sign Genoa’s Morten Frendrup and have been informed that the Serie A outfit plan to sell the midfielder for around £26 million this summer. Reds officials have turned out to watch the Denmark international several times this season and they have been mightily impressed by his performances, especially from a defensive standpoint.

Morten Frendrup’s Serie A statistics – 2024/25
Successful passes	963
Shots on target	9
Chances created	12
Tackles won	59
Duels won	168
Goals	2
Assists	0

Frendrup himself is ready for a new challenge and has formed part of Liverpool’s mission to find a defensive midfielder for over a year. Nevertheless, they aren’t alone in pursuit of the 24-year-old amid further interest from Italian top-flight clubs Atalanta, AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Fiorentina.

Ryan Gravenberch has excelled despite not being a natural number six, something which may have prompted Slot to have a look for alterations on the market.

Strength in numbers will be key if Liverpool have designs on retaining a well-earned title next term, so it won’t come as a surprise to see that they are already proactive in their efforts to land reinforcements.

Tottenham Hotspur have made contact over signing an “outrageous” forward as chairman Daniel Levy and the Spurs recruitment team consider a potential bargain summer deal, with his mooted price tag called “too good to be true”.

Tottenham target new forward amid Ange Postecoglou uncertainty

Ange Postecoglou’s full focus is on their looming Europa League final clash against Man United on May 21 – an encounter which could single-handedly rescue Spurs’ season from the depths of despair.

Tottenham hold talks with big-name coach who Benitez thinks is very clever

He’d be an ideal replacement for Postecoglou.

1

By
Emilio Galantini

May 14, 2025

Qualification for next season’s Champions League, not to mention Tottenham’s first major trophy in over 17 years, is on the line against United with both sides looking to end their dismal campaigns in the best possible fashion.

Reports claim Postecoglou is highly likely to leave Spurs regardless of whether they win the final in Bilbao (David Ornstein), but the Australian could still etch his name into history by becoming the first Lilywhites boss to win a trophy in nearly two decades.

Tottenham’s best-performing regulars in the Premier League	Average match rating
Son Heung-min	7.05
Pedro Porro	6.98
James Maddison	6.98
Dominic Solanke	6.88
Dejan Kulusevski	6.83
via WhoScored

He could also fulfill his early-season pledge of ‘always’ winning silverware during his second season in charge, so a lot is personally riding on the line for Postecoglou, even if a departure from N17 seems more and more inevitable.

The 59-year-old’s future will have a knock-on effect when it comes to Levy’s transfer plans for the fast-approaching summer window, and it is believed that Tottenham are targeting a new forward among their recruitment priorities.

Liverpool forward Federico Chiesa is apparently attracting interest from Spurs, while Man City playmaker James McAtee is another attacker admired by Tottenham. Both players are not expected to break the bank in terms of cost, amid claims Tottenham are set for a ‘sell to buy’ summer (The Telegraph).

However, one very highly-rated forward, and one who could be one of the bargains of 2025, is Lyon star Rayan Cherki.

Tottenham make contact over signing Rayan Cherki this summer

The Frenchman has bagged 12 goals and 18 assists across his total appearances in Ligue 1 and the Europa League this term, marking himself out as a star player for Lyon, but his contract is said to include a tantalising £19 million release clause.

That is according to Le Parisien, who also report that Tottenham have made contact over a move for Cherki, alongside some Premier League rivals.

The 21-year-old falls into Spurs’ recruitment policy perfectly, given he’s young with world-class potential at a very reasonable value. Cherki will surely be a player in very high demand this summer, with journalist Dean Jones previously explaining why clubs need to consider swooping for him.

“Rayan Cherki, who is just absolutely unbelievable,” said Jones on the Ranks FC Ultras Podcast (via TBR). “You see figures around Cherki and there’s like 25 million pounds talked about, which just seems like too good to be true. He’s just different, this player.

“If you haven’t seen Cherki play, then just either stop the pod and go and watch him on YouTube for 10 minutes and then come back or just go watch him while we’re talking right now. Because his skill level is outrageous. He feels like he could become one of the best players in the world.”

Given Cherki’s mooted fee has now dropped below £25m to £19m, it makes Jones’ statement all the more relevant, and we wouldn’t be at all surprised to see him emerge as a top target for Levy.

In a double blow for those in the Midlands, Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has now reportedly set his sights on signing both Emiliano Martinez and another Aston Villa ace this summer.

Simeone driving Atletico Madrid's Martinez move

Amid profit and sustainability (PSR) concerns, Aston Villa have looked likely to sell at least one star man for some time. For the last few months, however, it’s been a question of who.

Morgan Rogers, following an excellent season, has found himself among the headlines and on Chelsea’s reported radar but his importance at Villa Park may be too much to let go. Meanwhile, Ollie Watkins has also been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge in a transfer that would strengthen a Champions League rival.

In truth, Unai Emery should be desperate to keep hold of both stars and take Villa’s summer sales down a different route. That’s where Martinez could surprisingly come in. The 32-year-old appeared to be waving a tearful goodbye to Villa Park in his side’s final home game of the season last Friday and Emery failed to rule out a summer exit for the goalkeeper.

The Spaniard told reporters: “We will see. Of course, it is the last match here [this season], and I don’t know. We will see about the team, the players, but of course, they are responding on the field.”

Aston Villa in pole position after talks to sign "powerful" 18 y/o sensation

He’s a rising star.

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Sparking several rumours, Simeone now personally wants Atletico Madrid to sign Martinez if Jan Oblak leaves the Spanish club this summer. The La Liga giants aren’t alone in the race for the Argentine’s signature, either, with Manchester United also reportedly eyeing the chance to solve their Andre Onana problem using the Aston Villa shot-stopper.

If it is to be Atletico Madrid though, then Aston Villa could lose two players to the Spaniards in the same summer amid reports that Simeone is also a fan of another one of Emery’s men.

Atletico Madrid eyeing Barrenechea

According to Caught Offside, Simeone also wants to sign Enzo Barrenechea alongside Martinez from Aston Villa this summer. The midfielder has spent the campaign on loan at Valencia, impressing many away from the Midlands, and could now seal a permanent move away from the club just one year on from his arrival.

Despite being described as a “destroyer” by U23 scout Antonio Mango whilst on loan at Valencia this season, Emery has reportedly given Aston Villa the green light to sell Barrenechea this summer.

For all his potential, it would be an understandable sale as Aston Villa look to navigate their PSR problems. Selling a player who has thrived on loan, but one who may still struggle to break into Emery’s best side, should be the way forward for the Villans if they want to avoid any financial troubles this summer.

There is no getting away from the fact that this season has been a mostly disappointing one for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta’s side might have made it to the club’s first Champions League semi-final since the 08/09 season, but they were out of the Premier League title race months ago and crashed out of the FA Cup in the Third Round.

However, all of that can be forgotten for the next few months, as with the summer transfer window about to open, the North Londoners have the chance to seriously improve the squad with some international superstars.

Yet, it’s not all about incomings, and there are a number of first-teamers who should be sold or let go as well, including one who’s previously been compared to Patrick Vieira.

The Arsenal stars who should go

So, while the likes of Kieran Tierney and Jorginho are already confirmed to be leaving the club, with the former going to Celtic and the latter Flamengo, there are a few others in the squad who should probably be moved on, like Oleksandr Zinchenko.

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Alongside Gabriel Jesus, the Ukranian international’s arrival from Manchester City in the summer of 2022 represented the start of the Gunners’ recent resurgence, and for most of the 22/23 campaign, he was superb.

However, as his defensive fragilities became more apparent, he began to lose his place in the team and went from playing 2411 minutes in his first campaign to 2082 last year and then just 789 minutes this season.

Another signing from the same summer who should probably be moved on is Fabio Vieira.

The Portuguese midfielder joined the club from Porto for around £34m, but after two seasons, in which he scored just three goals and provided ten assists in 49 games, he was sent back to the Portuguese giants on a season-long loan.

While it’s been a reasonably successful spell back at his old club this year, ten goal involvements in 39 games is hardly prolific, so instead of giving him yet another chance in North London, Andrea Berta and Co should be ruthless and try and get back as much money as they can for him this summer.

That same ruthlessness should see them let another player leave, a player who’s been compared to the Gunners’ far more successful Vieira.

Arsenal's Vieira 2.0 must not play for the club again

So, given the situation of the squad at the moment, it’ll probably come as no surprise that the player we are talking about is Thomas Partey.

Now, the first thing to say is that this is no slight on the midfielder’s ability, as for much of his Arsenal career, he has been brilliant, so much so that back in 2020 after signing for £45m, Roy Keane, of all people, described him as “outstanding” and even compared him to one of the Gunners’ all-time great midfielders in Vieira.

Moreover, for much of this season, he was an important part of Arteta’s starting midfield, but even so, there are several reasons why he should be allowed to leave this summer and not offered a new deal, as reports suggest he will be.

The first is that at 31 and with his horrendous injury record, which has seen him miss 81 games for club and country since he moved to N5, and while he stayed remarkably fit this season, history tells us he cannot be relied upon to remain so.

This links to the next point: the finances.

Thomas Partey’s Arsenal injury record
Season	Number of injuries	Days missed	Games missed
2020/21	3	81	21
2021/22	3	152	19
2022/23	2	29	6
2023/24	2	143	34
2024/25	1	6	1
Total	11	436	81
All Stats via Transfermarkt

If Berta and Co do end up offering the former Atlético Madrid star a deal similar to the one he is on now, then that is around £200k-per-week tied up for at least a couple more years in someone who may end up missing huge chunks of the campaign.

Finally, following Fabrizio Romano’s update that Martin Zubimendi’s transfer to the club is practically complete, it once again feels like a waste of resources to be handing out big contracts to a player who could end up just being a squad player.

Ultimately, Partey remains a talented footballer and someone who has been a real asset to Arsenal, but as the club look to make the next step this summer, it makes sense to say thanks and let him leave, not hand him another expensive deal.

Is it set to be a busy summer at Celtic?

After missing out on the treble, beaten on penalties by Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup Final, the Hoops are expected to heavily reinforce their squad this summer.

Well, with a crucial Champions League play-off tie circled in red on the calendar, taking place at the end of August, Brendan Rodgers will want his summer business to be done early, so are the Premiership champions about to land a new recruit?

Celtic targeting a new midfielder

Defenders are certainly the order of the day for the Celts this summer with Kieran Tierney’s return to Parkhead one of Scottish football’s worst-kept secrets.

However, the full-back isn’t the only player who could be closing in on a move to Paradise according to reports.

As per Portuguese outlet A Bola, Celtic have ‘opened initial talks’ to sign midfielder Demir Ege Tıknaz.

They outline the fact that the 20-year-old spent this season on loan at Rio Ave from Beşiktaş, and the Portuguese club have an option to make this move permanent for €5m (around £4.2m).

However, given interest from Celtic, as well as Lille, Rio Ave are preparing to make a quick profit on Tıknaz, placing a €10m (around £8m) price-tag on his head.

So, would he be a good signing for the Scottish champions, and which former Celt is he reminiscent of?

Demir Ege Tıknaz: the next Nir Bitton?

Writer Ryan McGinlay believes that Tıknaz’s ‘resemblance in play-style to Nir Bitton is uncanny’ and, should he arrive, if the Turkey international had even half as successful a Celtic career, he’d be doing well.

Bitton signed from FC Ashdod in 2013 and would remain at Celtic for nine years, making 271 appearances and winning 18 major trophies.

Naturally a defensive midfielder, the Israeli international would frequently fill in at centre-back too, with Kieran Devlin of the Athletic praising Bitton’s ‘reading of the game’ and ‘composure in possession’, with Joe Sullivan labelling him ‘versatile and highly reliable’.

So, could Tıknaz be something similar?

Well, analyst Ben Mattinson believes the Turkiye U21 international ‘reads the game well’ allowing him to ‘step up and intercept​​​​​​​’, praising his ‘timing of tackles​​​​​​​’ and ability to ‘steal the ball’, adding that he possesses a ‘decent passing range’ too.

Meantime, in an interview with Sarah Shephard of the Athletic, Tıknaz​​​​​​​ himself says he has a similar playing style to that of Sergio Busquets, stating “I always want to have possession… I’m kind of a playmaker… I can play box-to-box too”.

Well, according to Aryan Suraj Chadha of Goal, the Turkish youngster is one of the most ‘sought-after talents across Europe’, so let’s assess his statistics in the Primeira Liga this season.

Tıknaz Primeira Liga statistics 2024/25
Statistics	Tıknaz	Primeira Liga rank
Minutes	1,976	107th
Completed passes	826	82nd
Pass completion %	85.1%	45th
Passes into the final third	99	34th
Progressive passes	96	62nd
Tackles	35	15th
Interceptions	47	3rd
Ball recoveries	132	21st
All statistics courtesy of FBref.com

​​​​​​​

Worth stating first and foremost that, according to a study by Bernd Frick, Tommy Kweku Quansah and Markus Lang, the Primeira Liga is one of the ‘least balanced leagues’ in European football, so the fact that Tıknaz was playing for Rio Ave, who finished 11th, makes his statistics all the more impressive.

Demir Ege Tıknaz (Tiknaz)

The Turkish midfielder ranks highly for metrics both in and out of possession, sat third when it comes to interceptions, while also registering noteworthy numbers when it comes to his pass completion percentage as well as passes into the final third.

Thus, all available evidence suggests Tıknaz is a high-quality, high-potential player, one that Celtic should absolutely be looking to snap up.

​​​​​​​

Celtic could strike for "excellent" 85-goal hero who wants Parkhead return

The Bhoys are on the lookout for more firepower.

5

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Jun 7, 2025

It’s finally confirmed. Matheus Cunha has left Wolverhampton Wanderers to join Manchester United in a £62.5m deal.

The move was agreed last month, but the Brazilian has now officially departed, giving Vitor Pereira some funds to work with this summer.

Pereira will have to spend wisely to replace the former Atlético Madrid star, as he was capable of moments of genius for the club during his two-and-a-half-year stint in the Midlands.

Indeed, he perhaps single-handedly kept the club in the Premier League last season, especially after they suffered a dreadful start to the campaign.

Matheus Cunha's 2024/25 season in numbers

Last season, he finished with 23 goal contributions – 17 goals and six assists – across 36 matches for the club in all competitions.

It was his displays in the top flight, however, that earmarked him as a target for several clubs.

Matheus Cunha’s Wolves’ statistics
Season	Games	Goals	Assists
2024/25	36	17	6
2023/24	36	14	8
2022/23	20	2	1
Via Transfermarkt

In the Premier League, he ranked first among the Wolves’ first-team squad for goals and assists (21), shots on target per match (1.3), big chances created (13) and key passes per game (1.8).

These statistics were mighty impressive, and it makes Pereira’s job of sourcing a replacement that much harder.

He has money to spend, that much is certain. But spending it on the right players will be the most important aspect.

Wolves search for a Matheus Cunha replacement

As reported by journalist Sebastien Denis earlier this week, writing for Foot Mercato, Wolves are reportedly targeting a swoop for FC St Gallen striker Willem Geubbels this summer.

Leeds United are also keen on securing his services following a prolific campaign in Switzerland.

A €10m (£8.5m) asking price is all that stands in Pereira’s way and given the financial rewards on offer for another season in the top flight, this fee won’t be any issue whatsoever.

Across 31 matches in the Swiss Super League for St. Gallen, Geubbels scored 14 goals and grabbed three assists.

Although typically deployed as a centre-forward, the youngster is also able to operate on either wing, and this flexibility will be a major bonus for the club.

This is evidenced by his performance across a range of metrics. Geubbels created seven big chances in the Swiss top flight, while also averaging 1.4 key passes and 2.5 total shots per game for St. Gallen.

Not quite at Cunha’s level, yet. But a move to Wolves could see him improve swiftly, especially with exposure to some of the best defenders in Europe.

Hailed as both “powerful” and “quick” by Kai Watson writing in the Rangers Journal in January 2024, Geubbels will offer plenty to the current Wolves squad.

Watson also stated that the youngster “plays the deeper role as part of a front two because of his creative ability.” And this could see him exuding the qualities that made Cunha such a hit at Molineux since joining in 2023.

Pereira must act quickly to snap up the young forward, especially as plenty of interested parties are keen.

Wolves now in transfer race with Leeds to sign "future star" for £8.5m

Wolves are among the teams keen on signing an exciting young forward.

By
Brett Worthington

Jun 12, 2025

Leeds United are close to securing their first signing of the 2025 summer transfer window. The Whites are now back in the Premier League following promotion success in the 2024/25 campaign, and are now seemingly ready to splash the cash in order to survive, something that has been a struggle in recent seasons for newly-promoted sides.

Highly reputable journalist Fabrizio Romano gave his famous “here we go” tagline to Leeds’ move for Jaka Bijol.

The Slovenian centre-back will join the club for £18.7m from Italian side Udinese, as their first major signing of the summer.

Daniel Farke’s side are now lining up their next signing, who could prove to be an even better addition than their new centre-back.

Leeds' next signing after Bijol

It is certainly an early statement of intent from the Yorkshire side. Bijol is an “immense” player according to Sky Sports’ Dougiue Critchely, so for Leeds to have all but confirmed his move to Elland Road is a strong start to the window.

Transfer Focus

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

Things could be about to get even better for the 2024/25 Championship winners. TEAMtalk are now reporting that Fulham striker Rodrigo Muniz is a target, with Leeds ‘ready to make a fresh push’ for the 24-year-old Brazilian.

However, this will not be an easy deal to do, with the report describing it as ‘difficult’.

The two clubs are some way apart in their valuation of the striker at this stage. Whilst the West Londoners want upwards of £50m, Leeds are hoping to do a deal around the £35m mark. Thus, ‘there remains lots of talking to be done’ in order for this transfer to progress.

Why Muniz would be a good signing

Bringing Muniz to Elland Road could be a huge addition for the Whites this summer. Crucially, he is a Premier League-proven player, with a track record of scoring goals in the English top flight during his two seasons at Craven Cottage.

Last term, the former Flamengo player found the back of the net on eight occasions in 31 appearances, grabbing an assist along the way, too.

He played just 950 minutes, the equivalent of ten full 90-minute games, meaning he was not far off a goal per game on average.

There is no doubt that Bijol is an excellent addition for the Whites. Pundits like Critchley rate him highly, and he helped keep eight clean sheets in 34 games last season for Udinese, captaining them at times, too.

He will certainly help to strengthen at the back at Elland Road, and will add some more leadership to Farke’s squad. That will be invaluable going into what will be a tough campaign in 2025/26, avoiding relegation.

However, perhaps there is a strong case to be made that Muniz will be an even better signing for Leeds, and for one reason. He is a proven Premier League goalscorer, having notched up nine in 2023/24 and, of course, eight last term.

In the last two seasons, all six newly-promoted sides have been relegated, and Leeds have a chance to buck that trend. Well, an experienced top-flight striker will count for lots. They will surely need his goals.

Of those six relegated sides, he was outscored by two Luton Town players in 2023/24, namely Carlton Morris and Elijah Adebayo, who scored 11 and 10, respectively. Last season, Liam Delap, now a Chelsea player, scored 12 goals, and the evergreen Jamie Vardy outscored him by one.

That said, Muniz was not always a regular starter and did actually score considerably more goals per 90 minutes which bodes well should he become Farke’s number one choice.

Relegated sides’ top goalscorers in last 2 seasons vs. Muniz
Player	Club	Goals	Goals per 90
Liam Delap	Ipswich	12	0.42
Carlton Morris	Luton	11	0.35
Rodrigo Muniz (2023/24)	Fulham	9	0.51
Jamie Vardy	Leicester	9	0.29
Rodrigo Muniz (2024/25)	Fulham	8	0.75
Jacob Bruun Larsen	Burnley	6	0.33
Brereton Diaz/McBurnie	Sheffield United	6	0.25 & 0.42
Paul Onuachu	Southampton	4	0.34
Stats from Premier League

Generally speaking, you need a top striker to regularly score goals and help keep you in the Premier League. Well, Muniz could be the guy for Leeds.

Not only did he score eight times in ten full 90-minute games last term, but his non-penalty expected goals of 0.75 per game as per FBref, was among the best 5% in the top flight.

He has the potential to explode if given a run of games by Farke. He could become a “revelation” in a Leeds shirt, a word football talent scout Jacek Kulig once used to describe him. £50m is a big investment, but it could be worth it if Leeds stay in the top flight.

A Chris Wood repeat: Euro club in talks to sign "dynamite" £13m Leeds star

This Leeds United attacker is in talks to move on from Elland Road this summer.

By
Dan Emery

Jun 16, 2025