Tottenham Hotspur are now fighting to sign “one of the best left-backs in Europe”, but there could be competition for his signature from their Premier League rivals, according to a report.

Tottenham eyeing left-back amid Udogie uncertainty

There have been few standout players for Tottenham this season, given what has been a very disappointing Premier League campaign, but Destiny Udogie has clearly done enough to catch the eye.

Manchester City are now pushing to sign the left-back, with new sporting director Hugo Viana believed to be a long-term admirer, although it remains to be seen whether Spurs would be willing to strengthen a direct rival.

Cristian Romero’s future in north London also remains in doubt, with the Lilywhites contacting AFC Bournemouth over Dean Huijsen, who could be brought in as a replacement for the Argentine.

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With a move also potentially on the cards for Udogie, Ange Postecoglou could also be tasked with bringing in a replacement this summer, should the Australian keep his job, and an exciting target has now been identified.

According to a report from Spain, Tottenham are now in the race to sign AC Milan left-back Theo Hernandez, but there could be stiff competition for his signature, given that Chelsea and Man City have also expressed an interest.

Hernandez’s contract is set to expire in 2026, which means this summer could be Milan’s last opportunity to receive a sizeable fee for his services, with the Frenchman’s value believed to be around £30m.

The 27-year-old is believed to be a key target at left-back, but with a number of top clubs queuing up for his signature, it remains to be seen whether Spurs will be able to lure him to north London.

Hernandez could be "brilliant" addition for Tottenham

It would be fair to say the Milan defender is not enjoying the best of seasons, but journalist Zach Lowy states he has been “one of the best left-backs in Europe over the past decade”, having particularly impressed in an attacking sense.

The France international has chipped in with a remarkable 34 goals and 45 assists in 256 appearances for Milan, during which time he has been lauded as “consistently brilliant” by football writer Carlo Garganese, which indicates this season may just be a blip.

Hernandez has proven he could be a fantastic addition for Tottenham, and £30m could be a bargain fee, given the level of his performances in the Serie A over a number of years.

However, Spurs’ number one priority should be to keep hold of Udogie, which they should be in a strong position to do, given that the 22-year-old is contracted until 2030.

Liverpool are now ahead of Manchester City in the race to sign a defender, and they now know £40 million will be enough to get the deal completed, according to a recent report.

Liverpool receive Huijsen boost after Van Dijk contract news

Last week Liverpool fans were delighted to see and hear the news that captain and defensive talisman Virgil van Dijk had signed a new contract at Anfield, continuing his stay at the club until 2027. The Dutchman is going to continue being at the heart of Arne Slot’s defence, but it appears as though the Liverpool boss is still looking to find his perfect partner or successor.

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The Reds are among the teams keeping a close eye on Dean Huijsen from AFC Bournemouth. The Spain international has been a standout performer for the Cherries this season, and that has put him on the radar of several big teams from England and abroad. It’s also been claimed that Chelsea have held talks with Huijsen over a possible move to Stamford Bridge.

Liverpool remain in the race and received a welcome boost this week, as it’s been reported that Real Madrid may pull out of the race to sign Huijsen; that is because they are not sure if they want to sign a defender this summer, leaving the door open for Liverpool, who know Huijsen has a £50 million release clause in his contract.

Liverpool lead Man City in race to sign Premier League defender

Huijsen is not the only defender on the Reds’ transfer list, as according to Give Me Sport’s Ben Jacobs, Liverpool are leading the way when it comes to signing Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth this summer.

The report states that Kerkez, who has been with the Cherries since July 2023, is expected to leave Bournemouth this summer, as while he doesn’t have a release clause in his contract, they will allow him to leave should they receive offers worth £40 million.

This report goes on to add that Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City have all kept an eye on Kerkez, but none have entered into fresh talks over a transfer. City in particular “appreciate” him, but a deal there is unlikely and a move to become Andy Robertson’s successor looks more probable.

The Scotland international still has another 12 months left on his contract at Anfield, but given he is 31 and making more mistakes with each passing season, Slot is looking to the future and sees Kerkez as a player who could be his long-term successor.

Milos Kerkez’s 24/25 Premier League stats compared to Andy Robertson

Kerkez

Robertson

Apps

33

30

Goals

2

0

Progressive carries

89

57

Progressive passes

141

163

Progressive runs

161

90

Tackles (Won)

49 (26)

38 (22)

Interceptions

38

20

Clearances

100

50

Blocks

33

9

Kerkez has impressed a lot in this campaign, assisting six goals as well as grabbing two himself in 33 games, as the Cherries continue their pursuit of finishing in a European position.

The 21-year-old has started every game he’s been available for in the league this season, so were he to arrive at Liverpool, he would likely want to start immediately and relegate Robertson to a supporting role.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta holds a “serious desire” for the Gunners to sign one player, with sporting director Andrea Berta and the recruitment team responding by making contact.

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Kieran Tierney is confirmed to be joining Celtic after his contract with Arsenal expires past June 30th, while Berta is believed to have transfer-listed fellow left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko.

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Lazio loanee Nuno Tavares is also very likely to depart Arsenal on a permanent basis this summer, while uncertainty still surrounds the future of defender Jakub Kiwior despite his more regular involvement recently.

Ipswich Town (away)

April 20th

Crystal Palace (home)

April 23rd

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

All of this means Arsenal are in the market for a new full-back option, according to GiveMeSport, as Arteta seeks more competition for first-choice left-back Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Both Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber can play on that side when required, but it is believed they still wish to acquire another option for the left-flank to provide more balance and dynamism.

In terms of named targets, Barcelona defender Jules Koundé, who’s dazzled at full-back under Hansi Flick at the Camp Nou this season, is reported to be a name under firm consideration at the Emirates.

Reports in Spain earlier this week stated that Arsenal are prepared to offer over £60 million for Kounde, and given Barca’s financial situation, the Catalans may be forced to consider any significant bids.

The France international could be a big ask, though, considering he takes home £223,000-per-week in salary and Arsenal’s wage bill is already pretty high. An equally impressive alternative, and one who Arteta is in love with, is Ajax starlet Jorrel Hato.

He has impressed yet again for the Eredivisie’s champions elect this campaign, starring at left-back over 45 appearances in all competitions, and he’s still just 19-years-old.

Arsenal’s have been eyeing Hato since 2023, and journalist Graeme Bailey recently reported that the Dutchman has had admirers in north London since he was 16.

Arsenal make contact with Jorrel Hato amid "serious" Mikel Arteta wish

As per TEAMtalk, that interest has remained, and Arsenal are in contact with Hato’s representatives as they look to beat Liverpool to his signature.

The teenager’s price tag stands at around £40 million, with TT making it clear that Arteta has a “serious desire” to work with Hato and is a “huge fan” of the defender. However, Arne Slot’s side do pose a serious threat, as it is reported they’ve now made an approach which has worried Arsenal.

Liverpool aren’t Arsenal’s only contenders either, as both Real Madrid and Barca are also admirers of Hato. Going by Football Analyst Ben Mattinson’s verdict on the Netherlands international, it isn’t hard to see why.

“Hato is something else man. Special talent,” wrote Mattinson on X.

“I love how this season he’s played LB, really platforms his ability to break the press and defend wide areas.”

Ahead of what could be another busy summer at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea have now reportedly held direct talks with one European club chief over signing a £42m defender.

Chelsea making summer transfer plans

As ever, the Blues will be ones to watch this summer. Even as their Champions League qualification remains unconfirmed, those at Stamford Bridge are likely to be in a position to splash the cash in an attempt to finally put a side together capable of taking Chelsea back into the Premier League title picture.

With the summer transfer window fast-approaching too, the rumours have already been coming thick and fast. Names such as Ollie Watkins and Dean Huijsen have particularly been mentioned among the headlines in recent weeks and there’s no denying that both would hand Enzo Maresca key upgrades at opposite ends of his strongest side.

Watkins would be a particularly interesting arrival thanks to his place at Aston Villa – a direct rival for Champions League qualification. A proven goalscorer in the Premier League, the England international could finally be the answer to the Blues’ striker problems if he decides to swap the Midlands for the London club this summer.

In pursuit of a rival star, to say that Champions League qualification would go a long way towards luring such players to Stamford Bridge would be a major understatement – especially if it means that Aston Villa miss out on a place.

Whilst it’s easy for the Blues to get ahead of themselves, however, Maresca chose to remain fairly grounded when quizzed on the frantic top five battle – telling reporters: “The mood is good and I’ve said for a few weeks now that it’s a matter of how we manage emotions until the end [of the season],’ the Blues head coach explained.

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“When we win games, we are happy and when we don’t win, we’re not happy. But it’ll be a race until the end and we need to manage the emotions. In this moment, the main thing is to watch ourselves and be focused on ourselves. This is the main point. For sure, there are more clubs involved [in the top-five race] but for us, it’s important to stay focused on ourselves.”

Chelsea step up move to sign Hato

Away from the action on the pitch, meanwhile, BlueCo have reportedly been busy. According to Dutch journalist Mike Verweij on De Telegraaf’s Kick Off podcast, Chelsea have now held direct talks with Ajax chief Alex Kroes over signing Jorrel Hato this summer.

The teenage full-back has enjoyed an impressive campaign in the Netherlands and BlueCo are now reportedly set to step up their chase for his signature in a deal worth £42m this summer. Adding competition for Marc Cucurella in the process, Hato would go a long way towards handing Maresca a complete squad.

Praised for an “excellent” season by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Hato looks likely to be one to watch as Chelsea push to welcome yet another young talent this summer.

Manchester City are eyeing a £30 million-plus move for a former Real Madrid defender this summer, as Pep Guardiola looks to shore up his side’s shaky backline, according to a new report.

City eyeing Champions League qualification

After a poor start to the campaign, City have shown signs of resurgence in recent months. While they’re still not quite at the level that brought them sustained domestic dominance in recent years, Pep Guardiola’s side are now firmly back in the hunt for Champions League qualification — a prospect that seemed highly unlikely just a few months ago.

Speaking to the club’s official website, midfielder Ilkay Gundogan recently addressed the importance of securing a top-four finish, calling it a “responsibility” to ensure City remain among Europe’s elite despite an underwhelming season.

“Our team is made and built to be more than this — it’s built to be a contender for the title every single year.For various reasons, we haven’t been at our best for a long period of the season. We are where we are right now, and we need to accept the situation.

“There are minimum targets that have to be achieved at this club, and that’s definitely qualifying for the Champions League next season. We have to do it – it’s our responsibility.”

City eyeing move for Lazio defender Mario Gila

One of Manchester City’s most pressing issues this season has been their defensive frailty. In the Premier League, Guardiola’s side have already conceded more goals than in any previous campaign under the Spaniard — and the most since the 2009/10 season, when Mark Hughes and Roberto Mancini led the team to a fifth-place finish.

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Guardiola attempted to bolster his defensive options in January, bringing in centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov from RC Lens and highly rated teenager Vitor Reis from Palmeiras. However, Khusanov has struggled to impress since his arrival, and reports suggest he could already be sent out on loan this summer. As for Reis, the 19-year-old is seen more as a long-term prospect rather than an immediate solution to City’s defensive issues.

According to CaughtOffside, City are now eyeing Lazio centre-back Mario Gila as a key target for the upcoming transfer window. Pep is reportedly a fan of the 24-year-old’s “composure, passing ability and understanding of defence”.

The report adds that Lazio are open to selling the former Real Madrid defender for a fee in the region of £34–39 million. However, City will face stiff competition for his signature, with Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Madrid themselves all monitoring the situation closely.

Gila has been one of Lazio’s key players this season, starting 26 of the club’s 28 Serie A games, winning an impressive 33 tackles and making 118 recoveries.

It might be over two decades since they won the Premier League, but Arsenal have had some sensational players represent them since then.

The likes of Cesc Fàbregas, Robin van Persie, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang and Alexis Sánchez were all near enough unstoppable on their day, even if they couldn’t deliver the club the biggest prizes.

However, perhaps the star who felt most likely to drag the North Londoners back to the pinnacle when he arrived was Mesut Özil.

The German playmaker was an unreal talent, but unfortunately, his Arsenal career fizzled out into nothingness, and now there’s a player in the current squad in danger of having the same happen to him.

Ozil's Arsenal career

On transfer deadline day 2013, Arsenal announced the shock £42.4m signing of Ozil – to fan delirium – and there was a level of hope that the former Real Madrid superstar would be the one to bring the glory years back to N5.

For the first few seasons, while there was no league title or European glory, the World Cup winner certainly delivered on his end of the bargain, racking up 61 goal involvements in his first three seasons and helping the club win some FA Cups.

However, as time passed, and especially after signing a new £350k-per-week contract, the former Werder Bremen gem seemed to become less and less effective.

In fact, once Arteta was appointed manager in 2019, the German superstar eventually saw himself frozen out of the team entirely, with fans and pundits alike lambasting his apparent lack of effort off the ball.

Eventually, after over a year of barely playing for the club, he left for Fenerbahçe for free in January 2021.

Ozil remains a popular figure with much of the fanbase today and left with an impressive tally of 44 goals and 75 assists in 254 appearances, but there is no denying that he left the club failing to achieve what many thought he would, and on a low rather than a high.

Unfortunately, a current Arsenal player might be falling down the same path this season, a player the boss should look to drop from the starting lineup for some time.

The Arsenal star emulating Ozil

On the back of Tuesday night’s defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, it would be easy to lambast the entire starting lineup for not playing well enough, but in retrospect, it wasn’t quite the battering some may try to portray it as.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

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Arsenal had their chances to score, and for much of the game, the likes of Declan Rice, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Bukayo Saka and David Raya did their jobs.

However, there was one starter who was as bad as everyone initially said: Martin Odegaard, who was anonymous at best and actively ruining attacks at worst.

The Norwegian fully deserved the 4/10 match rating he received from the Independent’s Jamie Braidwood, and the worrying thing is that it wasn’t a massively surprising performance either.

Yes, even though he picked up his second successive Player of the Year Award last season, the “frustrating” playmaker, as dubbed by podcaster Rohan Jivan, has been seriously poor all season, and as content creator Rimedi pointed out earlier this year, he’s just “not at the level.”

In all, the player who is supposed to be the team’s creative hub has amassed just 15 goal involvements in 39 games this season, which is undeniably underwhelming and feels eerily similar to Ozil’s slow decline.

As this collapse in form is showing no signs of reversing, Arteta should take him out of the team for the next game at least and start Ethan Nwaneri in the middle of the park, as he looked more likely to make something happen in just five minutes of action on Tuesday.

Odegaard’s 24/25

Appearances

39

Minutes

2982′

Goals

5

Assists

10

Goal Involvements per Match

0.38

Minutes per Goal Involvement

198.8′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Ultimately, Odegaard is an incredibly talented player, but at the moment, he is not showing it, and therefore, he should be dropped and given time to figure out what’s going wrong, lest his Arsenal career end the same way Ozil’s did.

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Birmingham City haven’t always enjoyed Championship life in recent memory, with the Blues last finishing inside the top half of the notoriously difficult division way back in 2016.

Since then, it’s always been a drab finish served up by Birmingham in the lower reaches of the EFL’s elite league, with their ongoing downward trajectory seeing a painful relegation finally occur at the end of the 2023/24 season.

Now, however, the sleeping giants seem to be back on the rise after clinching the League One title with ease, with the Tom Wagner-backed Blues ready to spend big again this summer to try and take the second tier by storm.

How Birmingham could sign their answer to Vardy

With Phil Neumann’s signature already wrapped up from Hannover 96 improving Birmingham at the back, the newly promoted side’s focus could now switch to enhancing their already potent attack.

Peterborough United sensation Kwame Poku has been linked with a move on a free transfer, which would more than boost the ambitious Championship club in this department, having registered 21 goal involvements this season.

Transfer Focus

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However, there’s one statement signing in the offing that could really take Chris Davies’ men to the next level.

Amazingly, reports at the back end of last month suggested that Davies and Co may well attempt to lure former striker Che Adams back to St. Andrew’s this summer, with the former Blues centre-forward currently enjoying life out in Italy with Serie A titans Torino.

But, the allure of coming back to the Championship and being the club’s top dog could be very tempting for the goal-hungry 28-year-old.

How Adams can be Birmingham's own Vardy

If a statement reunion does get over the line, Birmingham might be about to win their very own version of Leicester City legend Jamie Vardy.

Why? Well, in the words of the Daily Mail’s Mark Wilson, ‘Adams is Scotland’s answer to Jamie Vardy’, having traded non-league football for Premier League riches, like his former Fleetwood Town counterpart.

Obviously, Adams hasn't quite reached the dizzy heights of Vardy's glory days yet, with the Foxes legend managing to lift a Premier League title across the course of his 199-goal spell at the King Power Stadium.

But, in a similar fashion to the 26-time England international, the 28-year-old Adams has never looked back since being given his first opportunities to impress in the EFL.

Indeed, the former Ilkeston youngster first settled into life as a goalscoring menace in the Championship and beyond on the books of the Blues.

Premier League

144 goals

25 goals

Championship

38 goals

49 goals

League One

0 goals

11 goals

FA Cup

7 goals

3 goals

EFL Cup

8 goals

11 goals

Sourced by Transfermarkt

The table above really reinforces how much of a clinical finisher the Scotland international has been over the years, up and down the relentless divisions, with Adams amazingly boasting more career goals in the Championship than Vardy, even if he has had struggles in the Premier League.

Therefore, bringing the Torino attacker back to Birmingham next season could work wonders for Davies’ men, especially as they aim to consolidate themselves as a second-tier outfit again.

Much like Vardy too, it seems as if Adams is gradually just getting the better the more his varied career chugs along, with the 28-year-old actually firing home ten goals for Torino this season so far, which is one more strike than Vardy’s own total leading the line for Leicester.

Moreover, the last time he was regularly performing at Birmingham’s level, the “fantastic” striker – as he has been previously lauded by ex-boss Ralph Hassenhuttl – managed to fire home a blistering tally of 15 league strikes for Southampton.

Therefore, Davies will be hopeful that Adams can just pick up from where he last left off if he does seal a return.

Birmingham would really show they mean business back in the Championship by winning Adams’ signature, with second-tier defences no doubt scared stiff by the prospect of the 28-year-old causing chaos again.

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Looking towards the summer transfer window, Aston Villa have now reportedly joined the race to sign a 15-goal striker alongside a number of their Premier League rivals.

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They did their bit on Saturday night after seeing off Bournemouth away from home, winning 1-0 thanks to Ollie Watkins’ strike and some heroic defending, despite a late red card for Jacob Ramsey.

Victory at Bournemouth means that Villa have put the pressure firmly on rivals Nottingham Forest, while they are now poised to pounce following Man City’s draw at Southampton and ahead of Chelsea’s trip to Newcastle.

By qualifying for the Champions League, Villa would instantly ease any financial concerns and be in a position to compete for some of Europe’s most interesting talents in the transfer market once again. And that could yet see a Champions League finalist make his way to the Midlands.

Aston Villa join Goncalo Ramos race

According to CaughtOffside, Aston Villa have now joined the hectic race to sign Goncalo Ramos from Paris Saint-Germain this summer. The forward is reportedly open to leaving the French champions in a bid to gain a starting role elsewhere.

Sparking interest from Villa, Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle among others, the Portugal international, who shares an agent with Marco Asensio, isn’t exactly short on suitors.

Amid recent rumours that Chelsea and others are interested in signing Ollie Watkins this summer, Ramos could emerge as an ideal option for those at Villa Park.

Even without consistent starts at PSG, the 23-year-old has showcased his quality by scoring an impressive 15 goals in all competitions following their Champions League semi-final victory over Arsenal in midweek.

After an “outrageous” start to his Portugal career, according to football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Ramos will be desperate to take his international form to club level on a more consistent basis this summer – something that Aston Villa could yet offer him.

Liverpool have lost their underdog moniker under the management of Arne Slot, who is a Premier League-winning manager in his maiden campaign.

That’s for the best. Anfield, after all, plays host to one of the best and most fearsome outfits in world football, and the powers that be will no doubt be aware Arsenal and Manchester City are ready to make sweeping changes over the summer.

It’s the full-backs, however, who have been the first port of call. Jeremie Frimpong is on the verge of completing his transfer as Trent Alexander-Arnold’s replacement, while plans have been drawn to secure a long-term star at left-back.

In something of an open secret, FSG are looking to close talks with Bournemouth for their rising talent Milos Kerkez, who is desperate to make the move to Merseyside.

Liverpool advancing in talks for Milos Kerkez

Andy Robertson became a two-time Premier League winner this year, starting 28 matches with one to spare. However, the 31-year-old is on the decline and bringing Kerkez in as his heir is a brilliant move.

Not least because the two can work together next season, the younger man absorbing the teachings of one of the modern game’s finest full-backs.

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed Kerkez, 21, is closing on his dream move to Merseyside, with personal terms all wrapped up and now advancing discussions with the Cherries, who have previously listed the Hungarian at £45m.

Hailed a “revelation at Bournemouth” by pundit Jamie Carragher, Kerkez is the perfect wide defender for Slot’s side, with a balanced approach, energy and tenacity, athleticism and initiative.

Kerkez would add a dimension for sure, but that’s not Liverpool done and dusted in the rearguard. Indeed, FSG may yet green-light another move for a central defender to complete a title-winning defence.

Liverpool line up new centre-back

Liverpool missed out on Dean Huijsen, the Bournemouth centre-back moving to Real Madrid despite the vested interests of the Premier League’s biggest hitters.

Huijsen isn’t the only talented defender on the market, though, with Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi also on the Reds’ radar.

According to GIVEMESPORT’s Dean Jones, Liverpool continue to circle for the Three Lions star, though they are joined by a host of further clubs: Chelsea, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Bayern Munich, Juventus.

Currently, Guehi is understood to have a market value of £50m, but after Oliver Glasner orchestrated an incredible FA Cup final victory over Manchester City, the Eagles may well look for something steeper, a fresh update that will no doubt have Liverpool and the rest chewing over.

That said, the 24-year-old is about to enter the final year of his deal, so this might be one that carries into the thick of the summer market.

What Marc Guehi would offer Liverpool

Crystal Palace signed Guehi from Chelsea for £18m in 2021, and now he is immortal.

Across 155 appearances, he’s scored eight goals and risen in reputation and actual ability to become one of England’s finest. Now, his triumph in the FA Cup has solidified his greatness in south London.

This might make it more difficult to pull him away from Glasner’s clutches, for Palace will compete in the Europa League next year, but the savvy Steve Parish runs the risk of losing his prized asset on a free if bids are turned away over the coming months.

Regarding Liverpool, Slot and co may want to exhaust every reasonable option to bring him to the club. The two-footed centre-half really could be the perfect signing alongside Kerkez, especially since he bears a likeness to Huijsen.

Matches (starts)

34 (34)

30 (25)

Goals

3

3

Assists

2

1

Touches*

64.9

64.4

Pass completion

84%

84%

Key passes*

0.5

0.5

Dribble success

86%

40%

Ball recoveries*

4.3

3.4

Tackles + interceptions*

2.6

2.9

Clearances*

4.6

6.0

Duels (won)*

4.9 (59%)

3.8 (57%)

As you can see, both players have dynamic qualities on the ball and are strong and sure in their defensive work.

But why are we discussing Real Madrid-bound Huijsen? Well, given the similarities and, dare we say, superiorities across certain areas in Guehi’s favour, it’s hard to imagine he’d be anything other than a bona fide success alongside Kerkez in the years to come.

After all, we’re talking about “one of the most impressive defensive lines in Europe,” something echoed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, whose expansive style of football under the wing of Andoni Iraola could see Kerkez dovetail right into the Liverpool scene.

Guehi, who has had a taste for success with Palace this year, is a defender catered toward the highest station. His ability to pick out promising attacks with regularity is something Huijsen has built into his efforts this year, and is something that Kerkez has indeed used to charge his exploits.

Over the past year, Guehi has established himself as a starting fixture for England, but the signs of brilliance have been there for far longer.

His former teammate at youth level for England, Josef Bursik, once remarked that the “tank” of a defender is fantastic to play with as it’s “like having a brick wall in front of you.”

With a silky ability to play out from the back, ranking among the top 9% of Premier League centre-backs this year for through balls and the top 18% for shot-creating actions per 90 (as per FBref), Guehi could thread neat balls out wide, into space, into Kerkez’s path.

It’s quite the exciting combination, one Liverpool fans may begin to salivate over given Kerkez looks pretty nailed-on to sign for Liverpool in the coming weeks.

More importantly, it’s all evidence that Liverpool, Premier League champions, aren’t resting on their laurels, and are acting like the goliath institution that they are.

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A £50 million-rated Crystal Palace star has now told club chiefs that he is ready to leave this summer amid interest from Manchester United and others, according to a recent report.

Crystal Palace chasing midfield reinforcements

Whether Palace win the FA Cup and therefore secure Europa League football or not, it looks as though the South Londoners are going to be very busy in the summer transfer window.

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May 1, 2025

A couple of weeks ago, Palace announced that midfielder Will Hughes agreed a new contract until 2027, but it is still clear Oliver Glasner and co. have their eyes on adding to their options in the middle of the park. Highly-rated Sunderland pair Chris Rigg and Jobe Bellingham have been linked with moves to Selhurst Park, but they are not the only options under consideration.

Palace are now interested in signing Wilfred Ndidi from Leicester City, as the midfielder can leave the Foxes for just £9 million, given that he has a relegation clause.

However, they are not alone in the race, as Everton and Fulham from the Premier League are also interested in a deal. Palace are also in the running to sign midfielder Rayan Cherki from French side Lyon. However, the Premier League side are considered ‘dark horses’ in the race, given that there are many other teams from England also looking to snap up the exciting attacker.

£50m Crystal Palace star tells chiefs he wants out

Signing players like Ndidi and Cherki may become a top priority for the Eagles, given the fact they could be about to lose a key player. According to TBR Football, Eberechi Eze has told Crystal Palace he wants to leave the club this summer amid interest from Premier League teams.

TBR Football’s chief correspondent, Graeme Bailey has now reported that Eze feels it is the right time for him to leave Palace. This news comes amid significant interest from teams in the Premier League – Manchester United are hopeful of signing Eze, while Spurs consider signing Eze as a replacement for Son Heung-min and Liverpool are considered the frontrunners to secure a deal.

Bailey said on Eze’s situation: “Much will depend on Palace’s demands around his release clause; very few are needed to be paid in one lump sum, and I don’t believe that Palace will do that to Eze either. Tottenham love the player; we know that – but they are not alone – Manchester City like him a lot. I am told that Pep Guardiola is an admirer.

“City are looking at bolstering their attacking midfield ranks, but Florian Wirtz is ahead of him in that regard, and I believe so are Lucas Paqueta, Charles De Ketelaere and Francisco Trincão, but I would not dismiss it totally. Newcastle and Aston Villa also admire him, and if he does go – it will be a team playing in Europe.

Eberechi Eze’s Premier League record
Apps	142
Goals	30
Assists	23

“Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool are all fully aware of him and are fans of his talents, but I don’t believe he is a priority for them as it stands. Eze, for his part, feels the time is right to move and has expressed this to Palace.”

Eze, who has been dubbed “frightening” by teammate Joel Ward, would cost teams a minimum of £50 million this summer.