Crystal Palace have received a major update on their manager situation as it seems Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has rejected their offer to replace Oliver Glasner.
Glasner will be leaving Selhurst Park at the end of the season after announcing earlier in the campaign that he would not be signing a new contract, with his current deal expiring in the summer.
Iraola is another top Premier League manager who’s about to become available, and he’s been one of the names linked with the vacancy at Palace.
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However, Sky Sports now report that the Spanish tactician has turned the job down, in what is likely to be a boost for clubs such as Liverpool and Manchester United.
Andoni Iraola snubs Crystal Palace for bigger job?
Iraola has become highly regarded during his time at Bournemouth, even if his side have suffered a slight dip in form in more recent games.
It seems likely that the 43-year-old will have plenty of opportunities once he becomes available this summer, having previously been linked with the likes of Liverpool and Man Utd.
LFC, meanwhile, are doing really badly under Arne Slot right now, and that’s put the Dutch tactician under growing pressure ahead of the summer.
For now the word is that the Reds will keep faith in Slot, but if things get any worse between now and May it’s easy to imagine them being tempted to swoop for Iraola instead.
Glasner, meanwhile, has also been linked as an option for the Old Trafford job.
The talented 24-year-old has nine goals and seven assists in all competitions so far this season, and looks like he’s surely going to earn himself a big move sooner or later.
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Akliouche has been with Monaco since joining their academy in 2017, playing for their B team before notching up over 130 appearances for their senior side.
According to TEAMtalk, he’s now being eyed up by both Man United and Liverpool this summer after both clubs had scouts monitoring his performances.
Maghnes Akliouche to Liverpool or Manchester United?
We have also seen Akliouche linked with Liverpool in the last few days, with Fichajes claiming the Reds are looking at him as one of their potential options to replace Mohamed Salah.
Still, it seems the Red Devils are also keen on the France international, who could be a useful addition for either club due to his ability to play a variety of roles.
WhoScored note that Akliouche has played as a central attacking midfielder, on the right flank, and even as a striker so far this season.
That could be useful for MUFC as there could soon be the need to replace the ageing Bruno Fernandes, who is approaching the final year of his contract.
Liverpool will also surely hope to be in the mix for Akliouche, not only because of Salah’s imminent exit, but with Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa both being fairly underwhelming with their recent performances.
That’s according to a report from Spanish outlet Fichajes, which states that Man Utd now look prepared to make a big offer for Gueye by paying the €45m required to get him out of Villarreal.
The Senegal international looks like he could be a good fit for United to replace Casemiro as he nears the end of his contract, and he’d be a lot cheaper than some of the club’s other targets in that position.
Pape Gueye to return to the Premier League?
Gueye has shone in La Liga and doesn’t have any experience of playing in the Premier League, despite briefly being a Watford player.
In a bizarre saga back in 2020, Gueye agreed to join Watford on a free transfer, though he never actually kicked a ball for the club.
As reported by the Daily Mirror at the time, Gueye was sold to Marseille just 17 hours after becoming a Watford player as he immediately changed his mind about his move to Vicarage Road, claiming he’d been badly advised.
Pape Gueye to Manchester United transfer could accelerate
Fichajes now suggests MUFC are really keen on Gueye, and a deal for the 27-year-old could accelerate in the coming weeks.
Now we know the Gunners’ record from those four matches – two wins, against Everton and Leverkusen, followed by two defeats to City and Southampton.
So, the Carabao Cup and FA Cup are gone now, but Arsenal actually extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table by beating Everton while Manchester City could only draw at West Ham.
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What next for Arsenal?
7th April – Sporting Lisbon vs Arsenal
While it may only be the first or two legs, so unlikely to be decisive, if Arsenal play as badly as they have in their last two games then it will surely be another defeat. Losing by a single goal wouldn’t be the end of the tie, but Arsenal on current form probably wouldn’t have it in them to come back from a two-goal deficit, and this is a quality Sporting side who shouldn’t be taken for granted.
11th April – Arsenal vs Bournemouth
Arsenal’s first league fixture since the win over Everton, and it looks on paper like a fairly generous one. Even if this Bournemouth side have looked very decent at times this season, they’re currently without a win in their last five games and down in 13th in the table. If Arsenal can’t pick up three points at home in this context then that doesn’t bode at all well for them holding on to their current lead at the top of the table.
15th April – Arsenal vs Sporting Lisbon
After this game, Arsenal will either be out of a third competition in the space of just a few weeks and facing a full-blown crisis, or they’ll be heading for the Champions League semi-finals and keeping their double hopes alive. Given the fixture coming up after this one, they’ll want to avoid extra time and avoid feeling like their entire season rests on how they do in the league.
19th April – Manchester City vs Arsenal
The big one. Arsenal were really poor in the Carabao Cup final defeat, and it’s unclear at this stage how that game will affect this one. Before their recent meeting at Wembley, Mikel Arteta boasted a good recent record against Pep Guardiola, albeit not so much at the Etihad Stadium. So, will Arteta learn lessons from that cup final defeat and coax a response from his players, or will that result wreck the team’s confidence and lead to another damaging result?
Arsenal’s season can still be a success
It’s been nervy for Arsenal at times, and the football hasn’t always been pretty, but this is a team that knows how to grind out results, and they could still scrap their way to a successful season.
You’d imagine that once they finally get their hands on a big trophy like the Premier League or the Champions League, there’ll be a new-found confidence flowing at the Emirates Stadium, but for now they just need to do whatever it takes to get points on the board.
And, let’s be clear about this, because there’s been a lot of nonsense of this nature written on social media – even if Arsenal only manage to win the Premier League title this season, that’s still a huge success.
Arsenal were never realistically in the race for a quadruple, which even Pep’s best Man City teams never managed. To measure any success the club has against a fantasy outcome like that is absurd, and the reality will be a first title in 22 years against a City side with far more in the way of resources, and an expensively-assembled Liverpool side everyone was expecting to stroll to the defence of their title.
What do you expect from Arsenal in their next four games and do you still see this as a potentially great season for the club? Let us know in the comments!
Ibrahima Konate is reportedly now expected to stay at Liverpool, with a new contract increasingly considered more likely than a summer exit.
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The France international is coming towards the end of his current deal, making him a free agent this summer, which has led to plenty of speculation over his future in recent months.
However, it now looks like things are heading in a more positive direction, according to L’Equipe, who report that Konate has never been closer to staying at LFC than he looks now.
Ibrahima Konate could be staying at Liverpool after all
With Virgil van Dijk looking past his best at times this season, it’s surely vital for Liverpool to keep Konate as a key figure in their defence.
If the 26-year-old were to leave this summer, it would likely mean the Reds would have to enter the market for two new central defenders.
There are increasingly positive noises about Konate’s future now, though, with the Athletic also reporting that an Anfield stay could be the most likely outcome now.
What Fabrizio Romano told us about Ibrahima Konate
“There are discussions ongoing with the French defender. At the moment there’s still nothing done or agreed, but the conversations are still underway.”
He added: “Let’s see if they can find a financial agreement … The player is open to continuing at Liverpool, but obviously it’s an important contract for his career.”
Romano also mentioned that Real Madrid had cooled their interest in Konate.
Arsenal have been linked with Yan Diomande and my understanding is that they’d have the edge over Liverpool in the race for his signature.
Having reached out to a number of sources close to the situation, I can reveal that Champions League football is considered a must for Diomande when it comes to deciding his future.
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The Ivory Coast international is yet to decide on his future, and he could even sign a new deal with Leipzig, as they remain in contention for Champions League qualification.
Liverpool, by contrast, currently face an uphill battle to get into Europe’s top club competition next season, so could fall behind in the race for Diomande.
Arsenal register interest in Yan Diomande
Liverpool have been strongly linked with Diomande for some time now, but I’m now also aware that the Gunners have registered an interest.
“Arsenal have reached out to those around Diomande to be kept informed over his future,” one source said. “That doesn’t mean a bid or an offer is imminent or definitely going to happen, but it’s a position they’re looking to strengthen and he’s appreciated by their recruitment team.”
“Diomande is Liverpool’s preferred Salah replacement, but the reality is that they’ll struggle to get him without Champions League football, and there is a huge amount of interest from all over Europe, with Arsenal very much in the race,” another source added.
Yan Diomande transfer looks ideal to add spark to stale Arsenal attack
Arsenal have had a strange season as they sit top of the Premier League table without really looking that convincing with their performances, particularly in attack.
Mikel Arteta’s side often get results through a strong defensive set-up and a threat from set-pieces, but someone like Diomande could help turn them into much more of a threat in attack.
The talented 19-year-old has an impressive return of 11 goals and six assists this season, and that could make him an upgrade on the likes of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.
Yan Diomande
Games
Goals
Assists
RB Leipzig 2025/26
29
11
6
Arsenal fans will hope there will be more emphasis on creativity and flair next season, with Arteta’s tactics this season not really in keeping with the club’s traditions.
AFC were always great entertainers under Arsene Wenger and even if some tactical tweaking has been useful to improve results, there have also been times this season when it looks like it’s cost the team.
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Kofane has impressed in Leverkusen’s first-team this season, and it seems Arsenal are now expected to step up their interest in him, and Falk believes they’re the favourites over Bayern Munich for the moment.
Elsewhere in the report it also states: “Bayern Munich have also been linked with a move for the highly rated youngster, although they may prioritise alternative options.”
Christian Kofane transfer eyed by Arsenal and others
See below for a timeline of recent Kofane transfer stories as speculation over the 19-year-old’s future has grown ahead of the summer…
18th March – Arsenal, Chelsea, and Newcastle are linked with an interest in Kofane by Sports Boom.
1st April – Arsenal described as ‘monitoring’ Kofane, while Real Madrid are also mentioned by Florian Plettenberg.
It certainly sounds like the Gunners’ interest is the strongest for the moment, but Kofane is clearly an exciting talent who’s going to be on the radar of a lot of top clubs.
Arsenal would surely benefit from bringing in a top young attacking player this summer after some issues at that end of the pitch this season.
Although Mikel Arteta’s side sit top of the Premier League table, they’ve recently been beaten by Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final and knocked out of the FA Cup by Southampton.
Players like Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus don’t look the same after repeated injury problems, so bringing in Kofane could be ideal to give Arteta a better alternative to Viktor Gyokeres.
Manchester United are reportedly accelerating talks over new contracts for key first-team duo Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire.
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That’s according to Fabrizio Romano on his latest YouTube post, with the Italian journalist confirming the pair will sign “soon”.
It seems Man Utd’s aim is to finalise these deals before the start of the 2026 World Cup, so that could be some important business completed by the club by the end of this season.
Fabrizio Romano provides Manchester United contract update
“Let me start by mentioning that Manchester United with Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo returning from the national team are now prepared to accelerate and formally close both new contracts for the players before the World Cup.
“So this is the mission before the end of the season – sign everything with Kobbie Mainoo 2031 and with Harry Maguire to extend the contract for one more season, 2027 plus option 2028 club option.
“So the negotiation is already very advanced with Kobbie Mainoo is almost done, with Maguire who will sign soon and so Man United plan to announce everything before the end of the season.
“This is the club’s wish now working with the lawyers of the players with the camp of the players to sort everything but advancing very well for both Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire to be important parts of Manchester United project, not just this season but also for the future.”
How Mainoo and Maguire revived their Man United careers
This is positive news for United fans, and it’s an impressive achievement for both Mainoo and Maguire after they’d previously fallen out of favour.
Mainoo was barely playing for MUFC earlier this season while Ruben Amorim was in charge, but he’s shone since returning to the team under interim manager Michael Carrick.
Maguire, meanwhile, was widely seen as a flop at Old Trafford a couple of years ago, but he’s remained professional and worked hard to re-establish himself as a first-team regular.
Keeping both players on new deals looks like important business for United to help their preparations for next season and beyond.
Chelsea are reportedly in control over Valentin Barco’s future as he looks ready to complete a transfer to Stamford Bridge this summer.
The talented young Argentine is said to have given his green light to joining the Blues from Strasbourg, who are under the same ownership.
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It looks like this is all heading in a positive direction for Chelsea, with Fabrizio Romano reporting on the saga on his YouTube channel.
We’ve also previously reported on Chelsea’s interest in Barco, with the west London giants competing with the likes of Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid for the 21-year-old’s signature.
Fabrizio Romano on Valentin Barco to Chelsea transfer
“Chelsea have total control on the Barco situation,” Romano said.
“Same ownership as Chelsea, but Valentin Barco is a player that Chelsea already have in their list for season 26-27.
“So for this summer, what I can tell you is that Valentin Barco together with his agents already gave his green light on leaving eventually Strasburg in the summer transfer window and joining Chelsea.
“Barco is okay with that. Barco is ready to make his move to Chelsea. Now obviously club to club is the same ownership, so it’s not going to be any issue.
“It’s still not done sealed, but Chelsea intention is to control the Barco situation and to consider Valentin Barco as one of the first signings for a season 26-27.”
Barco has mostly played as a defensive midfielder for Strasbourg, and is a player that manager Liam Rosenior will know well.
He can also operate as a full-back if required, so that’s surely someone who’ll be useful for CFC over the course of a long and challenging season.
Valentin Barco
TOTAL SCORE: 17/25
Transfer fee
****
Performance
***
Achievements
**
Career phase
****
Squad need
****
For that reason, as well as his likely low asking price due to Chelsea’s connections with Strasbourg, we’ve scored this a high-medium 17/25 with our Transfer Fit rating system – click here to read more about how these are calculated.
Chelsea were notably close to signing Jules Kounde during his time at Sevilla back in 2021, only for him to join Barcelona instead.
However, the Blues are now on alert for Kounde again as it looks like he could be made available for the right price this summer, as first reported here for the Daily Briefing.
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My understanding is that Chelsea are now ready to try an “aggressive” push for the France international’s signature, though other clubs could also get involved.
Jules Kounde to add more experience to Chelsea defence?
Despite Chelsea’s current owners prioritising investing in elite young players, there is some degree of openness to adding a bit more experience to their squad this summer.
I’ve previously mentioned that Chelsea view Harry Maguire as an option in that position as he nears the end of his contract, and Kounde is another who could come in and offer something that the west Londoners have sorely missed since Thiago Silva’s departure.
“Chelsea still have faith in their transfer policy and are expected to stick with it,” one source in the industry told me. “But they’re open to adding more experience if the opportunity arises, and Kounde is someone they’ve been interested in for a long time. They’re aware he could leave Barcelona this summer and are preparing an aggressive approach to lure him to Stamford Bridge.”
Jules Kounde transfer won’t come cheap
This deal is far from straightforward, however, as some sources I’ve spoken to have also indicated that Kounde himself is not desperate to leave Barca.
Their asking price for the 27-year-old could also be pretty high, with his valuation in the region of £65-70m.
That could be an important sale for Barcelona to help them with their current financial issues, but Chelsea and other clubs would likely look to strike a deal for well below that, or else explore options elsewhere.
Kounde is not getting any younger, so probably doesn’t have much resale value at this stage in his career, while his salary is also expected to be high, perhaps around €18m a year.
There are a lot of moving parts here, but Chelsea’s strong interest and Barcelona’s desire to sell makes this an intriguing saga to keep an eye on this summer.
Arsenal fans may be interested to hear that Fabrizio Romano rates the chances of Castello Lukeba leaving RB Leipzig at around 80-90% likely this summer.
The talented 23-year-old has impressed in his time in the Bundesliga and it makes sense that he’s now seen as someone Leipzig could cash in on.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano says it now looks very likely that Lukeba will be moving on this summer, though he did not name a specific club the Frenchman could be joining.
A recent report from L’Equipe stated that Arsenal were in initial discussions over signing Lukeba, so that could be one to watch out for in the weeks and months ahead.
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Fabrizio Romano on Castello Lukeba transfer
“There is a lot of interest in Castello Lukeba,” Romano said.
“The release clause is around €80m but the player can leave for less than this in this summer’s transfer window. So there are several clubs following the situation.
“For Lukeba it’s close to 80-90% the possibility to see him leaving already in this 2026 summer transfer window. There will be movement for the player for sure.”
Do Arsenal need Castello Lukeba?
Lukeba is a fine player at a good phase of his career, and it seems like he wouldn’t cost a fortune.
However, do Arsenal really need another centre-back? It’s perhaps hard to see Lukeba getting much playing time due to the presence of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, while Cristhian Mosquera is a solid backup and Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber can also fill in in that position.
Luka Vuskovic says he will be back at Tottenham this summer after his successful loan spell with Bundesliga side Hamburg this season.
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The 19-year-old has been hugely impressive during his loan spell in Germany and it’s led to interest from a host of top clubs.
We recently reported on Chelsea being keen on Vuskovic, though the deal could be problematic due to his market valuation of around £86m.
Liverpool have also been linked with the Croatian wonderkid by Sport Bild, and it certainly seems like it could be tricky for Spurs to keep hold of such an elite prospect, especially if they get relegated.
Luka Vuskovic planning Tottenham return
Still, one positive for now is that Vuskovic himself has hinted he’ll be coming back to Tottenham to be part of their squad next season.
It may be that the teenager doesn’t want to fuel speculation too much and is simply commenting on the fact that his current loan will be coming to an end, but it also perhaps at least suggests some openness to being involved with this Spurs team.
“In football, you never know,” Vuskovic said, as quoted by the Evening Standard.
“It could happen next year, or in ten years. I don’t want to promise anyone anything.
“After this season, I’ll be a Tottenham player again. I have a contract there until 2030.”
Luka Vuskovic return could be a big boost for Spurs
After such a terrible season at THFC, it would certainly be a major boost if they could welcome such a top young defender into their ranks for the next campaign.
For now, new manager Roberto De Zerbi urgently needs to focus on keeping Spurs up in their final few fixtures, but if they do that then they should be capable of rebuilding and perhaps challenging for the top four again.
Vuskovic could be a key part of that, but he’d also surely be tempted by an opportunity like Chelsea, with the Blues building around young players and looking like being able to offer some form of European football next season.
See below for details as Romano provides this update, while Florian Plettenberg has recently stated that Diomande’s current asking price is around €100m…
? RB Leipzig are discussing new deal with Yan Diomandé new agents to try keep him at the club for one more season.
Increased salary, longer contract… and a release clause being considered. ?
Diomandé will decide also based on bids this summer.
Diomande faces an important summer as he’ll no doubt be tempted to jump at the chance to join a big club like Liverpool.
The Reds need a long-term replacement for departing club legend Mohamed Salah, so this could be a signing that suits everyone.
At the same time, however, Diomande needs to be careful not to rush into a big move too soon, and it could be that staying at Leipzig for a bit longer would be the best thing for his development.
Leipzig have often sold their star players for big money, so one imagines Diomande won’t be there for the long term, but one more season could be better for him to gain a bit more experience before the challenge of replacing someone like Salah at Liverpool.
Yan Diomande
Games
Goals
Assists
RB Leipzig 2025/26
29
11
6
It would be exciting to see Diomande in the Premier League at some point, but if Liverpool don’t get him this summer then it will surely only become a more competitive race for his signature in future.
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The Brazil international is coming towards the final year of his contract at the Bernabeu, leading to intermediaries sounding out potential suitors.
That’s according to TEAMtalk, who name Liverpool, Arsenal, Man Utd, Man City, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayern Munich as the teams approached.
The report suggests there has been a major development in Vinicius’ contract talks with Real Madrid as there’s no agreement reached so far, and no sign of the Spanish giants improving their offer.
Vinicius Junior exploring transfer options
While TEAMtalk also state that Vinicius has not necessarily indicated that he wants to leave Real Madrid, it seems intermediaries are exploring other options for him.
Los Blancos also won’t want to lose the 25-year-old on a free transfer next summer, so that could mean they’ll be open to cashing in on him now if a big enough offer comes in.
It remains to be seen if the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool would sign Vinicius due to his high wage demands, though he is undoubtedly up there with the best players in world football.
Should Arsenal and Liverpool try signing Vinicius Junior?
Vinicius has 17 goals and nine assists in all competitions so far this season, once again showing that he’s an elite attacking talent who can influence big games.
Arsenal certainly need someone like that on their left-hand side after the inconsistent performances of players like Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard in that department.
Onana has shone at Villa Park and could be a good option for Man Utd, with Villa’s ongoing financial issues perhaps meaning they’ll have to sell the Belgium international.
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Football Insider have previously reported on United eyeing Onana and they have now quoted former Premier League scout Mick Brown as providing further insight into the situation.
Amadou Onana could leave Aston Villa
Villa have been tipped to be under pressure to accept “huge” bids for Onana, so that could be a boost for MUFC as they look for new signings in the middle of the park.
It remains to be seen if the 24-year-old will be one of United’s priorities in that position, but Brown also noted that the player himself has previously hinted he could look for a big move to further his career.
“They (Villa) don’t have the room to spend money unless they sell players, we’re told, so then of course the talk is about which players could leave,” Brown told Football Insider.
“Onana is one who I wouldn’t be surprised to see go. If a huge offer came in for him from a top club, Villa might see him as somebody they can cash in on.
“He hinted at it before in an interview, suggested he could leave for a bigger club, so if that opportunity comes up now then it could happen.
“Unai Emery, ideally, wouldn’t be losing any of his best players because he wants to build on the success they’ve had, but it’s difficult with their finances.”
Onana has been a solid performer for Villa, and previously also impressed during his time at Everton.
Proven in the Premier League, and still not at the peak years of his career, this seems like a pretty sensible signing for United, though they could probably do better given his likely cost…
The talented 22-year-old has impressed during his time in the Saudi Pro League, with a record of 44 goals in 69 games.
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Leonardo’s performances have seemingly caught the eye of clubs like Liverpool and Tottenham, according to a recent report from Sports Boom, and it could be that there’ll be a chance for a swap deal.
According to Give Me Sport, this could be a deal that satisfies all parties, as Salah could finally get his long-mooted move to Saudi Arabia by joining Al Hilal, with Leonardo moving in the opposite direction.
One issue with Mohamed Salah swap transfer talk…
It is worth noting, however, that the expectation for the moment is that Salah will leave Liverpool on a free transfer this summer.
Although the Egypt international has another year left on his contract, Ben Jacobs previously reported that an agreement was in place for him to leave on a free a year before that deal comes to an end…
? Mo Salah will leave Liverpool on a free transfer. Parties came to an agreement over a termination in a similar manner to the exit the club negotiated with Jurgen Klopp when he decided to leave #LFC. pic.twitter.com/sVyChqoW4Y
This means LFC can’t use Salah in a swap deal, as he’ll no longer be their player this summer, unless of course the Reds go back on this agreement.
Still, perhaps a more informal kind of deal could be agreed, with Salah heading to Al Hilal and Liverpool using that as leverage in any talks over Leonardo.
Is Marcos Leonardo good enough for Liverpool?
Leonardo looks like an impressive young player, but it’s also worth noting that his experience in the Saudi Pro League alone won’t prepare him for Premier League football.
The Brazilian’s only previous experience in Europe was with Benfica, and he only scored 8 goals in 24 games there, so Arne Slot will perhaps be looking for some more proven when it comes to replacing a legendary figure like Salah.
Marcos Leonardo
TOTAL SCORE: 12/25
Transfer fee
**
Performance
**
Achievements
*
Career phase
****
Squad need
***
We’ve given Leonardo a low-ish medium score with our Transfer Fit rating system, as he meets certain criteria, but not others.
His recent form is good, but with the caveat that it’s only in the Saudi Pro League, while his career achievements aren’t much to write home about at this stage.
Still, Liverpool need attacking players and he probably wouldn’t cost a fortune, and is at an age where he can improve a lot in the next few years.
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Watch below as Guardiola paid tribute to Rodri as an “incredible” player, but also told him in no uncertain terms to knock on the door of the club’s sporting director if he wants them to sort out his sale…
?? Pep Guardiola has sent a CLEAR message to Rodri – if you want to leave, you have to leave! ? pic.twitter.com/j9J2txlp5I
What Fabrizio Romano has said about Rodri transfer situation
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano provided his insight into the Rodri situation, which sounds like it’s still fairly open.
The 29-year-old has been discussed as a target for Real, but City have also offered him a new contract as they’d ideally like him to stay.
“The key point here is that Rodri in this moment, then we never know in football, but in this moment has two ways to decide whether he wants to stay at Manchester City and also eventually sign a new contract if he wants, or plan for a move away from Man City,” Romano said.
“So his statements about Real Madrid were quite strong. Obviously the appreciation from Real Madrid is there. So for sure Real Madrid internally are discussing about Rodri and is an option for Real Madrid. But at the moment there is still no bid, no direct club to club talks for Rodri.
“But what’s the point? Rodri from what I understand already has a new contract proposal into his hands from Manchester City. So Man City are offering a new contract to Rodri and they are prepared to give him an important salary.”
Romano added that Rodri would now have to decide whether to stay for one more year, stay and sign a new deal, or leave for the Bernabeu.
Given how important Rodri has been to City down the years, they’ll surely want to avoid his departure this summer, with the club already struggling since Kevin De Bruyne’s exit last year, while Bernardo Silva and John Stones are set to be out of contract at the end of this campaign.
Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister has reportedly given his agent the clear instruction of getting him a dream transfer to Real Madrid.
The Argentina international feels ready for a new challenge and the coming weeks could be crucial to determining his future, according to Spanish outlet Fichajes.
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Of course, it wouldn’t exactly be ideal for Liverpool, but there’s perhaps also an argument that Mac Allister’s form has gone a little downhill this season, so he could be replaced.
It will be interesting to see what happens with Fernandez, who has been suspended by Liam Rosenior for Chelsea’s next two games, perhaps hinting that his time at Stamford Bridge could be coming to an end.
Still, CFC also invested a lot in the former Benfica man, so surely won’t be too keen to let him go for anything other than huge money.
That could make Mac Allister the more realistic option for Los Blancos.
Could Liverpool replace Alexis Mac Allister?
LFC might do well to change things around in midfield this summer after a disappointing campaign, with Mac Allister not exactly looking like someone who’d be totally irreplaceable.
The 27-year-old was recently linked with Real in a potential swap deal that could bring Eduardo Camavinga to Anfield, as per Fichajes.
That could be smart business by Liverpool if they pull it off, with Camavinga offering more of a physical presence and more defensive discipline in that position, whilst also being younger, with the potential to keep on improving in the next few years.
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On top of that, the Spanish tactician addressed the situation with Madueke, who did play for England but who had to go off with what looked like a bad problem.
Still, as quoted by the Evening Standard, Arteta now says it looks like it will only be a minor issue for Madueke, with the Gunners boss describing it as “really good news”.
Mikel Arteta on Noni Madueke injury
“It looked really bad. Noni was really worried, especially after what happened in his other knee a few weeks out and he was out for six weeks. But no, it’s nowhere near that injury. That was really good news,” Arteta said.
The 24-year-old should now have a role to play for Arsenal towards the end of this season as they chase the Premier League title, Champions League, and FA Cup.
Arteta on other Arsenal injuries
Arteta also spoke somewhat cryptically about Arsenal’s other injuries, simply stating that the club have a good relationship with the national teams.
It seems like some AFC players might have pulled out in order to rest for the run-in, but Arteta didn’t confirm or deny that.
“We have very good relationships and communication with most of the national teams,” Arteta said.
He added: “In the end there was a medical decision that has to be made. It was clear what the conclusion was.
“When a player is fit and available, he has to play. It makes us very proud that we have that many players in the national team and the players are desperate to play with the national team.
“We are fully supportive of that. When we can do it, we do it.”
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